Met police firearms

[Techie1 + 2,024]

PC attacked just weeks into the job urges offenders to consider the consequences of their actions.

Officer Clifford had to undergo surgery twice following the incident.

A constable who was viciously attacked just weeks into the job has urged offenders to think on the ramifications of what they do.

PC Sherry Clifford, a patrol officer in Evesham, Worcestershire, was assaulted only five weeks after completing her initial training.

Her case has been highlighted by West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion, as part of a drive to reduce violence against officers.

After being called to a fight in Evesham City Centre a man kicked PC Clifford in the face fracturing her jaw and causing her to lose two teeth.

She also had to undergo two bouts of surgery.

At first the constable was unaware of the severity of her injuries but six weeks of repeated trips to the dentist soon brought home the reality to her.

She said: “I began to feel worried about being in the same situation again, I also felt frustration that it had happened to me so early in my career.”

PC Clifford chose not to take any sick leave and says she would have been “frightened” to return the role had it not been for the support of her tutor and inspector throughout the recovery process.

Her tutor referred her to the Police Federation who were able to provide additional support and in one-to-one sessions with her sergeant and inspector.

They all agreed for her to attend further public order incidents in Worcester to relatively soon after the incident to “stop the fear setting in”.

Now PC Clifford “wants the public to realise that every officer and member of staff has a family, a private life and wants to go back home safe.”

She added: “I want offenders to think about the wider consequences, what if this was their sister or girlfriend? I want offenders to consider the person outside of the uniform.

“It’s not okay to grab or push police officers, it’s not part of their job.

“Police officers are often called upon in times of desperation so deserve more respect.”

PC Clifford said that by sharing he story she hoped to promote an understanding that officers are “human not machines.”

She added: “Hitting a police officer is a really shameful act, these are the people who are there to help."

Earlier this year Police Oracle launched our BluePrint campaign which calls on the government to meet its obligation of protecting officers both in the job and when they have been forced out of the service because of physical injuries or mental trauma.

View on Police Oracle 

[Zulu 22 + 4,576]

The problem is that the people who assault Police do not give a dam about the consequences. Of course it takes some form of hero to assault a female officer, and that is not sexist at all. She received support from her tutor, Inspector and the Federation which is to be expected. 

Assault on Police has always been a problem but the Courts should show that it is taken seriously by remand ing each case to Crown Court for sentencing. It needs the Court to give substancial sentences for Assault Police. people outside the job just do not realise the violence that we have to face, virtually, on a daily basis.

The report does not indicate if the offender was arrested or not, or even made a Court appearance. There are of course the occasional poster on here who criticise the use of force by officers when arresting an offender like this. There are more interested in criticising the Police and do not like to acknowledge that there are offenders out there who think nothing of using violence. 

[Milankovitch + 3,445]

21 minutes ago, Zulu 22 said:

Assault on Police has always been a problem but the Courts should show that it is taken seriously by remand ing each case to Crown Court for sentencing. It needs the Court to give substancial sentences for Assault Police. people outside the job just do not realise the violence that we have to face, virtually, on a daily basis.

What is the point of putting it to Crown Court for sentencing? The maximum prison term for s.89 assault police is 6 months, which a magistrate can sentence somebody to anyway. That would only make sense if the maximum term was more than a magistrate could impose. It doesn't need to go to Crown Court for the maximum sentence to be imposed.

Edited August 6, 2017 by Milankovitch

[Zulu 22 + 4,576]

6 minutes ago, Milankovitch said:

What is the point of putting it to Crown Court for sentencing? The maximum prison term for s.89 assault police is 6 months, which a magistrate can sentence somebody to anyway. That would only make sense if the maximum term was more than a magistrate could impose. It doesn't need to go to Crown Court for the maximum sentence to be imposed.

 

From what I can tell that can only be done for either way offences anyway and s.89 police assault is summary only.

The point, dear chap, is to increase the sentencing, commensurate with the offence, I was thinking of Section 47 upwards to S18 Wounding with intent to resist arrest.

If every Assault on a Police Officer was punished by imprisonment, some people might think twice, I doubt it, but some might. There is nothing wrong with the notion of Courts and the CPS supporting the Police more.

Edited August 6, 2017 by Zulu 22

[Milankovitch + 3,445]

4 minutes ago, Zulu 22 said:

The point, dear chap, is to increase the sentencing, commensurate with the offence, I was thinking of Section 47 upwards to S18 Wounding with intent to resist arrest.

That's not what you said initially though. Even then if you look at the sentencing guidelines for s.47 offences at the lower end a magistrate can't really commit it to Crown Court as the sentencing powers available to them are sufficient.

4 minutes ago, Zulu 22 said:

If every Assault on a Police Officer was punished by imprisonment, some people might think twice, I doubt it, but some might.

I doubt it to be honest. Most of the people I have been assaulted by have either been drunk, impaired by drugs or both so the consequences are usually not being thought of. Most of the rest have had mental health issues.

[Zulu 22 + 4,576]

You are not giving assaulted officers any credit or support. What is wrong with Magistrates remanding to Crown Court for sentence, sending a message that this defendant needs a penalty greater than we can give. Many who assault me were trying to escape from being arrested. The drunks, druggies, and mental health case were nothing like the same problem, although those with Mental Health issues managed to summon up an energy from somewhere.

I did say "some people might think twice, I doubt it, but some might".

[Milankovitch + 3,445]

1 minute ago, Zulu 22 said:

You are not giving assaulted officers any credit or support.

You are reading into something that is not there as usual.

1 minute ago, Zulu 22 said:

What is wrong with Magistrates remanding to Crown Court for sentence, sending a message that this defendant needs a penalty greater than we can give.

They are bound by the sentencing guidelines and can't put cases to Crown Court where they have the power to impose a sentence that is within the sentencing guidelines. There is nothing wrong with magistrates putting cases to Crown Court for sentencing where they feel they can't impose a certain sentence but they certainly can't do it in every single instance as you suggest.

5 minutes ago, Zulu 22 said:

Many who assault me were trying to escape from being arrested. The drunks, druggies, and mental health case were nothing like the same problem, although those with Mental Health issues managed to summon up an energy from somewhere.

That's not my experience but we all have different experiences of that I suppose. 

6 minutes ago, Zulu 22 said:

I did say "some people might think twice, I doubt it, but some might".

Yes, I did see that the first time.

[Mac7 808]

Poor lass. It would be naive to join the job not expecting something like this to happen to you at some point but so early on is a real shame. If it wasn't her it would have been someone else. Most of the time people are assaulting the uniform, not the person inside it.

I've been assaulted a few times and it does knock your confidence. Thankfully this seems to have been dealt with exceptionally well. Most get the token phone call from a senior officer and then it's back to work.

There has been a lot of focus of late by forces on assaults on officers and how unacceptable it is. Which is great but it does not seem to have the buy in from the CPS or courts. Sentences should be a lot stronger.

[MajorDisaster + 579]

6 hours ago, Mac7 said:

Poor lass. It would be naive to join the job not expecting something like this to happen to you at some point but so early on is a real shame. If it wasn't her it would have been someone else. Most of the time people are assaulting the uniform, not the person inside it.

I've been assaulted a few times and it does knock your confidence. Thankfully this seems to have been dealt with exceptionally well. Most get the token phone call from a senior officer and then it's back to work.

There has been a lot of focus of late by forces on assaults on officers and how unacceptable it is. Which is great but it does not seem to have the buy in from the CPS or courts. Sentences should be a lot stronger.

deleted

Edited August 6, 2017 by MajorDisaster

[obsidian_eclipse + 1,202]

Just recently in my neighbourhood a man took a kitchen knife from his house and followed some women about with it in the early hours of the morning as they left a pub. Then when police attended he made threats to them with it. Although no one was thankfully injured, he recieved a suspended sentence! It must have been scary as hell for the women and I could well imagine how the officers felt confronting a man whos state of mind led him to stalk people with a large kitchen knife. The gap between merely carry a knife and using it is very small indeed and a few of my colleagues have been on the receiving end of nasty injuries where the consequences for the offender are considerably small compared to the consequences for the victims.

[Growley + 2,436]

On ‎8‎/‎6‎/‎2017 at 14:34, Milankovitch said:

I doubt it to be honest. Most of the people I have been assaulted by have either been drunk, impaired by drugs or both so the consequences are usually not being thought of. Most of the rest have had mental health issues.

Facing prison for assaulting a cop wouldn't stop the drunks, the MH sufferers or anyone else suitably impaired, but it might stop some of the sober gang members and those on the fence during public order situations.

At the moment we're drifting into this notion that it's ok to both physically and verbally challenge everything a Police officer is doing, and that much isn't limited to all the horrible and impaired people. If we started making examples out of people, it might make many think twice about it; and if not, at least they're won't be on the streets to do it again for a little while.

If I'm honest I don't think most low level assaults on us need a higher sentence, they just need the existing custodial sentence to actually be enforced. People who're kept in overnight to attend court can often walk away scot free when their punishment is put down to time served, and if they're bailed to court they're only likely to get a petty fine or suspended sentence anyway. Knowing shoving that cop means you'll lose half a year in jail could well make some people think twice.

[Mac7 808]

At the moment we're drifting into this notion that it's ok to both physically and verbally challenge everything a Police officer is doing, and that much isn't limited to all the horrible and impaired people.

This is a notion that I can't help thinking we have created for ourselves.

[Milankovitch + 3,445]

3 hours ago, Growley said:

Facing prison for assaulting a cop wouldn't stop the drunks, the MH sufferers or anyone else suitably impaired, but it might stop some of the sober gang members and those on the fence during public order situations.

At the moment we're drifting into this notion that it's ok to both physically and verbally challenge everything a Police officer is doing, and that much isn't limited to all the horrible and impaired people. If we started making examples out of people, it might make many think twice about it; and if not, at least they're won't be on the streets to do it again for a little while.

If I'm honest I don't think most low level assaults on us need a higher sentence, they just need the existing custodial sentence to actually be enforced. People who're kept in overnight to attend court can often walk away scot free when their punishment is put down to time served, and if they're bailed to court they're only likely to get a petty fine or suspended sentence anyway. Knowing shoving that cop means you'll lose half a year in jail could well make some people think twice.

I guess I don't really believe in the idea that prison sentences are much of a deterrent any more. I don't think a lot of the people we come into contact with care all that much, especially people like gang members. Even the thought of six months (so really three) in the jail wouldn't stop them.

[Cathedral Bobby + 1,174]

What's needed is assault on police should carry a minimum sentence of six months, not a maximum. Police are assaulted because the CJ system affords officers very little protection. I am often critical of the US system but on assaults on officers they are far more robust and give officers greater protection.

[Growley + 2,436]

Just now, Milankovitch said:

I guess I don't really believe in the idea that prison sentences are much of a deterrent any more. I don't think a lot of the people we come into contact with care all that much, especially people like gang members. Even the thought of six months (so really three) in the jail wouldn't stop them.

I'd agree with you in most cases.

With gang members, whilst many of them are willing to assault us, most still seem less willing to assault us than non-police people; simply because they don't like getting caught. Reinforcing the threat of getting caught with a mandatory term in custody might just make them think it's not worth it.

For the everyday idiots who aren't gang members though, making it very clear they will go to prison for assaulting a cop might just tip the balance in our favour.

I'd also like six months inside to mean six months inside.. but so far I'm listing lots of things I like that'll never happen, so I may as well throw in that I'd like a Ferrari and a big house in the countryside whilst I'm at it.