Violence against police condemned after eight officers attacked in one week

The incidents all happened in the space of a week and resulted in six people aged between 16 and 45 years old being arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.

One man has been sent to prison for assaulting a police officer, while two others have been charged and are due to appear in court.

Three other people were released pending further inquiries.

Anthony David Coyle, 31, of no fixed abode appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, August 12, charged with assaulting an emergency worker.

He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128.

David Joyce, 36, also of no fixed abode, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, August 19, charged with assault by beating an emergency worker.

He was remanded in custody and will appear via video link at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, August 25.

A 33-year-old Hartlepool woman is due to appear Teesside Magistrates’ Court in November charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and using threatening and/or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress.

Head of Local Policing, Chief Superintendent Thom McLoughlin, said: “Police have a tough enough job without being attacked at work and I am appalled that some people think it is acceptable to attack officers.

“Police officers risk their own lives every day to protect our communities.

"Being assaulted is not part of the job and it will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

“Recently, the Home Secretary proposed tougher sentences for anyone found guilty of committing violent acts against police and I completely support this.

“Mindless acts of violence and aggression towards officers needs to stop and anyone behaving in this manner will be put before the courts to answer for their alleged crimes.”

It comes after emergency services across Cleveland reported a rise in assaults on workers from March through to May this year.

Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire Brigade and North East Ambulance Service confirmed almost 200 incidents were reported in recent months.

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