People who commit vile attacks on police and NHS workers face tougher sentences under new rules introduced today.
For the first time, judges and magistrates in the courts of England and Wales will have specific guidance for offences of assault on emergency service workers.
The offence was brought into law in 2018 but until now cases have been sentenced under existing guidelines for assault.
Now the courts must take into account 'high-culpability' factors such as “intention to cause fear of serious harm, including disease transmission”, “deliberate spitting or coughing” and strangulation.
Government statistics show that 84 police officers a day are injured in England and Wales and there were 30,679 assaults last year.
There are nearly 1,000 assaults on firefighters.
On average, there are just over 200 reported violent attacks on NHS workers every day.
The government is currently looking at increasing the maximum sentence for assault on an emergency worker from 12 months in prison to two years.
In a statement issued on Facebook, the Federation for Greater Manchester Police supported the move 'because of the likelihood of offenders being released before the completion of their sentences'.
The Fed also called on judges and magistrates to make use of the new sentencing guidlines which will come into effect in July.
Stu Berry, Chairman of Greater Manchester Police Federation, said: "The courts have now been given the tools to do the job.
"That is meaningless however, if they are simply ignored by Judges. I would like the Government to continuously scrutinise these sentencing statistics and hold the judiciary to account on behalf of the Police and Public."
John Apter, Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, added: “During the last few years, we have been highlighting to the Sentencing Council the dangers officers face and our serious concern about some perverse sentences, which has seen people walking from the court after some vicious attacks on our colleagues."
“It’s good to see that the Sentencing Council has taken on board our views about assaults on police, including the vile acts of spitting and weaponising Covid, and these revised guidelines are a step in the right direction.
"What we need to see now, is judges making full use of the flexibility the guidelines provide to ensure that the sentence handed down reflects the seriousness and gravity of the crime.
“We will be watching closely to ensure we see a reduction in perverse sentences which result in thugs who attack emergency workers walking free from court with little more than a slap on the wrist.”
