Port of Tilbury-Police Constable

[Fedster + 1,307]

Chief says worrying level of violence 'completely unacceptable' after bank holiday battering of officers.

Protecting the protectors: Public and courts must both play their part in combating assaults on officers

Date - 31st August 2018
By - Nick Hudson - Police Oracle

1 Comment

 

A chief has called for frontline silent witnesses to document the “worrying” increase in violence directed at officers.

Temporary Chief Constable Gareth Pritchard believes the public can “do their bit” to help bring perpetrators of attacks on policing to justice in a 21st century version of TV’s ‘Candid Camera’ show.

He wants anyone who sees an assault on police or other emergency service workers to turn homespun ‘film director’ and video the incident as it happens – afterwards handing over their footage for court use.

The North Wales T/CC has spoken out after an unprecedented Bank Holiday weekend of assaults across this region that saw an officer have his eye gouged while others were head butted, kicked, pushed and scratched – resulting in a broken nose and jaw as well as other cuts and bruises.

He said: “I’m really concerned about the injuries being caused to officers . . . although the issue really is assaults on public servants – not just the police. We need to protect the protectors – it’s not just us.”

He labelled the weekend violence, in incidents at  Bala, Bangor, Caernarfon, Wrexham and Flintshire, “completely unacceptable and very concerning”.

Last month, there were 41 assaults on the force’s officers.

The force has reacted by increasing the number of Taser-trained officers on the streets of north Wales by a quarter – from 240 to 300 – supported by a further 100 firearm officers from the Cheshire and North Wales Alliance Armed Policing Unit.

Although Mr Pritchard said the use of Taser is “rare”, and would only be countenanced as a last resort.

The force’s most senior officer has also held talks with the North Wales Police Federation and a specialist group is being established to review the assaults in detail, which will report to the Force Operations Committee.

Mr Pritchard said: “We have seen an increase in assaults on police since July and August and I am becoming increasingly concerned about attacks where officers are being bitten and spat at as these kind of incidents can have far reaching consequences.

“I am really worried about the level of violence that is being used. An assault of any kind should never be considered ‘part of the job’.”

Despite the “real concerns” over the injuries caused to officers, he said many are choosing to stay on duty after receiving treatment. “It is also important to remember the impact these attacks are having on families.

“These attacks leave their mark physically and mentally on the officers... and their families.

“I feel that as chief constable it is my duty to support my officers and highlight to the courts the effect of those injuries on our staff who are working hard to safeguard the public.”

But in a clarion call to society, he added: “What we need is the public’s support and also support from the courts.

“I would ask that if members of the public do witness an assault on police that they video it and send it to us as evidence.

“But really the support we need the most is from the courts.”

Four people have been charged with five assaults on officers in Gwynedd, a further two offenders have been arrested in Wrexham and work continues to apprehend others suspected to be involved in the other incidents.

The North Wales Police Federation has previously called for tougher sentences for people who attack officers, as well as better training and support for staff.

Earlier this year, South Wales Police's Chief Constable Matt Jukes said his officers were subjected to about nine assaults a week, including knife attacks.

Yesterday Simon Kempton, Operational Policing lead for the Police Federation of England and Wales, told Police Oracle readers it saddened him when members of the public witness an interaction between the police and a suspect and "their initial reaction is to reach for their phones and start filming".

View On Police Oracle

[Radman + 2,163]

Or they could step in and assist the cop in restraining the individual as is actually required by the public at a common law level.

 

Edited August 31, 2018 by Radman

[JulietAlpha1 + 515]

I wonder what would happen if, instead of saying, “Tasers will always be used as a last resort,” chiefs started saying, “If we do not start seeing the public assisting and supporting police in these situations then we will have no choice but to start being far more robust in our defence of ourselves. This could result in more unsightly use of force and more use of taser. If you want your police officers to continue policing in the manner that you are used to and with the level of restraint that they show - when higher levels of force may well be justified - then get behind them because when we’re cornered it’s fight or flight. And we ain’t going anywhere!”

Mic drop.

[Shmook + 532]

44 minutes ago, Radman said:

Or they could step in and assist the cop in restraining the individual as is actually required by the public at a common law level.

 

There are 2 sides to this. 

 

I wouldn't expect my wife to jump in and go hands on if she saw something. To be honest, I wouldn't really wanting her filming it either (even if she chose to, which is doubtful), but yes, if you are able to assist, do so.

I would be stepping in as a civvy to help before I got my phone out to watch, and I believe most of my friends would too. 

[Hyphen + 693]

I think it’s a bit of common sense. Anyone who is capable should be assisting the officer if appropriate to do so, stopping to take their phone out and start filming isn’t what is needed in the situation and frankly isn’t that helpful in the grand scheme of things. 

Some people of course won’t be in a position to jump in and help, however, if someone is in that position and the situation has got that out of control then they need to get out of the area, not stand and film and make themselves a target.

Its a nice idea in theory what the chief is saying here but not really all that helpful.

1 hour ago, JulietAlpha1 said:

I wonder what would happen if, instead of saying, “Tasers will always be used as a last resort,” chiefs started saying, “If we do not start seeing the public assisting and supporting police in these situations then we will have no choice but to start being far more robust in our defence of ourselves. This could result in more unsightly use of force and more use of taser. If you want your police officers to continue policing in the manner that you are used to and with the level of restraint that they show - when higher levels of force may well be justified - then get behind them because when we’re cornered it’s fight or flight. And we ain’t going anywhere!”

Mic drop.

Yeah, couldn’t agree more with the above post.

Its my pet hate with Taser when chiefs, politicians go on about it being a ‘last resort’. Its a far lower use of force than pretty much everything else available to us. It really annoys me the way it’s viewed.

 

[Radman + 2,163]

22 hours ago, Shmook said:

There are 2 sides to this. 

 

I wouldn't expect my wife to jump in and go hands on if she saw something. To be honest, I wouldn't really wanting her filming it either (even if she chose to, which is doubtful), but yes, if you are able to assist, do so.

I would be stepping in as a civvy to help before I got my phone out to watch, and I believe most of my friends would too. 

If someone is able to they should be assisting especially those people who already work in some form of public service role, think council officials, railway/transport staff, security guards etc.

That's my point.

I'm lucky and I know we've touched on it before but at the stations I have worked at the railway staff by in large are reliable and will jump in to assist in an arrest when someone is really kicking off. I've worked in either fairly ruralish posts ir smaller city posts - In London I know that largely this is an alien concept to most BTP cops and staff will mostly take a big step back when it all starts to kick off, I do however know the vast majority of rail & retail staff where I work by name and they know me aswell - I know this isn't usually the case in other posts where cops are encouraged to give staff a widebearth by local management.

We'e harboured a blame culture in Britain when realistically a MOP helping a cop with an arrest is fairly covered in law so long as they aren't going overboard with their actions.

[sierragolf95 + 55]

I've jumped in to help cops both in civvies and security uniform, even when they're clearly struggling like hell most dont seem to want help, even once I've identified myself. Even if they do tell me to p*** off I'll hang around at a reasonable distance in case they start getting properly leathered or in case they want a witness but for the most part they seem to want to struggle themselves rather than accept a hand. 

[Hyphen + 693]

I know everyone will be different but I have had help before, even from some ‘over enthusiastic’ members of the public however it is always greatly appreciated. I would never knock it especially when struggling with someone.

As long as the person helping clearly identifies that they are ‘friendly’ so to speak then there shouldn’t be an issue, not such an issue if someone is in a uniform.

I think the problem nowadays more than ever is all the do gooders who feel it is their right to intervene and obstruct in arrests, in the heat of the moment it can be hard to differentiate. I still don’t think telling some where to go in that way when trying to help is the right way to go and frankly annoys me, simply because their rudeness may stop that person helping me when I need it!

[Beaker 817]

3 hours ago, sierragolf95 said:

I've jumped in to help cops both in civvies and security uniform, even when they're clearly struggling like hell most dont seem to want help, even once I've identified myself. Even if they do tell me to p*** off I'll hang around at a reasonable distance in case they start getting properly leathered or in case they want a witness but for the most part they seem to want to struggle themselves rather than accept a hand. 

That's nuts.  I always appreciate it when security staff help out, and I'm not exactly tiny.  Anything that makes life easier works.  

[David + 4,981]

It doesn't take everyone to start filming, but from an evidential point of view it would be useful if someone did. In that way, it might go some way to counter the edited versions that are all too common on social media that show the police restraining a 'poor innocent 14 year old girl' when it's shown she's been a foul-mouthed feral youth.

It would mean though that senior officers would have to stand up for their officers and supply the public with the full event.

[sierragolf95 + 55]

19 hours ago, Beaker said:

That's nuts.  I always appreciate it when security staff help out, and I'm not exactly tiny.  Anything that makes life easier works.  

Officers tend to accept more help when I'm in uniform than in civvies but even at that they would often rather struggle. If there is a big crowd though I'll just keep them back. Usually that third person to appear from nowhere, pull their legs out from under them and wrapping their legs up can make all the difference and seems to reduce the ability to escape from highly likely to no chance. I sometimes wonder if hanging around is the right thing to do because on one hand I don't want them having to watch over their shoulder to make sure I'm not going to take a penalty kick to their heads but at the same time I don't fancy walking away and then they end up getting a kicking.