AN ATTACK on one, is an attack on all, say senior Hampshire police officers who have agreed a seven point protocol to deal with physical and verbal abuse.
Hampshire Police is the first force in the country to have developed its own plan for ensuring these incidents are investigated properly and staff and officers are fully supported in this process.
The adopted plan, which came as a result of the issue being raised by Hampshire Police Federation Chairman John Apter, includes non-warranted staff members, and verbal abuse as well as physical assault.
The pledge has been signed by the Chief Constable, Kathy Symonds from Unison, John Apter, and Detective Chief Superintendent Ben Snuggs of the Police Superintendent’s Association.
It is now being adopted by other forces across the country, including the Metropolitan police who have called it Operation Hampshire, and has been picked up internationally.
Hampshire Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney said: "Assaults should never been seen as ‘just part of the job’. Officers and staff come into contact with people who are sometimes going through the worst experience of their lives, but this doesn’t give people the right to ever verbally or physically abuse our people.
“An attack on one of our officers or staff is an attack on all of us. If someone is hurt while on duty, the impact is huge.”
Mr Apter added: "Police officers and staff perform a difficult and often dangerous job, they deserve to be looked after if they are assaulted while performing their role. Nobody should expect to be assaulted just because of the job they do.
"That’s why I started this work so that if our officers and staff are assaulted, they get better support and are treated as any victim of crime should be.
"I want to see tougher sentences for those convicted of assaults on a public officer - such as a police officer or member of police staff, nurse, teacher or firefighter.
“Those protecting the public deserve to be protected themselves and this work is helping us to achieve that."