NEWS
series, published quarterly in the “Crime in England and Wales” reports by the ONS. This annex, updated annually, provides a comprehensive view of crime statistics. Before April 2017, assaults on police officers were only classified under “assault without injury,” which included only those incidents that did not result in physical harm. Assaults causing injury were
categorised under broader classifications such as “violence with injury”. The introduction of the specific classification “assault with injury on a constable” in April 2017 marked a significant shift, allowing for more accurate tracking of such offences. Previously, the Home Office estimated
the total number of assaults using a mix of self-reported data from police forces’ HR or health and safety systems and recorded crime data for “assault without injury on a constable.” However, since the establishment of the new crime classification, the need for data from health and safety systems has diminished.
HISTORICAL TRENDS Analysing the historical trends reveals interesting patterns. Between March 2007 and March 2010, there was a noticeable decline in “assault without injury on a constable” offences. This trend
persisted until March 2015, after which there was a sharp increase of 8 per cent in such incidents, rising from 14,369 to 15,512. This increase was less pronounced compared to the 26 per cent rise in similar offences not involving constables during the same period. From March 2015 to March 2022, the number of “assault without injury on a constable” offences steadily climbed, reaching 30,016 by March 2022. The following year, ending March 2023, saw a slight decrease to 29,809, representing a 0.7 per cent drop. However, the latest data for the year ending March 2024 shows a sharp 15.5 per cent increase, with 34,428 offences reported. Conversely, “assault with injury on a
constable” has exhibited relative stability since its introduction. The year ending March 2018 recorded the lowest number of such offences—7,989—possibly due to the initial phase of implementing the new crime classification. However, in the most recent year ending March 2024, there was a noticeable 8.4 per cent increase, bringing the total to 11,479 offences.
IMPLICATIONS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK The rising numbers of assaults on police officers underscore a pressing issue for the recruitment and retention of officers.
While the introduction of specific classifications has improved the accuracy of crime recording, the increase in both “assault without injury” and “assault with injury” incidents suggests a growing need for enhanced measures to protect officers and address the root causes of such violence. The Police Federation applauds the Home Secretary’s recent words that acknowledge the unique risk our members face, and her acceptance that we need more officers back on the streets, walking in the community and rebuilding those ties and bonds of trust that were once commonplace. It’s time now for words to become actions; to achieve the goal of more officers on the street we must first retain the existing officers we have, and fair pay is pivotal to this. As data collection methods and crime classifications continue to evolve, ongoing analysis will be crucial in understanding these trends and formulating effective strategies to combat and prevent assaults on police officers.
Addressing this issue not only involves strengthening protective measures but also fostering a broader societal dialogue about the challenges faced by law enforcement personnel and the importance of supporting their roles in maintaining public safety.
05 | POLICE | OCTOBER | 2024
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