Police have released a photo of a man they want to speak to after officers were allegedly punched and spat at as they tried to break up a fight.
Nottinghamshire Police said the two police officers were patrolling the streets when they noticed a disturbance in Angel Row in Nottingham city centre.
They went over to intercept the fight and the men involved reportedly began to verbally abuse them.
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One officer was punched and another spat at during the incident, police said.
A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of public order offences and assaulting an emergency worker.
In the meantime, another officer was surrounded by a group and hit. The officer’s emergency button was activated to call for backup, but the attackers fled from the scene shortly after.
Police have now released an image of a man they believe could assist with their enquiries into the incident, which happened at around 5am on Monday, November 1.
PC Alex Smedley, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: “An officer’s job above all else is to protect the public. They were simply doing their job trying to break up a fight, which was causing a disturbance in the city centre, at the time of these reports that their attempts to help were met with violence.
“It is always shocking to hear reports of this nature and it should not simply be considered as part of the job to expect or withstand such behaviour.
“Both ourselves and the courts seek to take robust action on anyone suspected of assaulting an emergency worker. We are committed to our investigation and are continuing to make thorough enquiries.
“We believe the man in the photograph may have information which could assist with our investigation and we are very keen to speak to him."
Anyone who recognises him, or anyone who witnessed the incident, is asked to get in touch on 101, quoting incident 99 of 1 November 2021.
Information can also be provided anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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