A man has been arrested after a police officer was attacked while attempting to catch a suspected shoplifter in Cribbs Causeway.
Fellow officers and members of the public came to the PC's rescue after a man started repeatedly punching in a car park.
The victim followed the man following reports of shoplifting at a store in The Mall, on Sunday (September 1).
As the officer got closer to the suspect, he reportedly unleashed a violent assault on the PC.
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said: "A police officer was assaulted at around 3.25pm on Sunday (September 1) after attending a report of a shoplifting offence at a store in The Mall Cribbs Causeway.
"The officer located a suspect in a car park but as got closer, the man turned and began to punch the officer repeatedly.
"The man was detained following assistance from members of the public and other officers.
"A 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and theft from a shop. He’s been released under investigation while enquiries continue."
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