Two Brighton and Hove police officers were being treated in hospital after being attacked as new figures laid bare the extent of daily violence faced in the line of duty.
Three Sussex Police officers are attacked every day on average, with a growing number of assaults being recorded.
The number of attacks went up 16 per cent over four years from 1,033 assaults in 2018-19 alone.
Of these, 288 resulted in injuries and included kicks, punches, scratches and bruising through to more serious injuries such as dislocations, fractures and concussion.
Sussex Police said that officers were also regularly subjected to being spat at, which in many cases led to them having to undergo tests for HIV and hepatitis.
Three officers were attacked yesterday and two of those were taken to hospital. The force said: “On Thursday evening (15 August), two officers attended an address in Hove to conduct a welfare check where suspected ‘cuckooing’ was taking place.
“They were both attacked, with one of them being punched several times to the head, resulting in concussion.
“He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where he remained overnight.
“During the fracas, his colleague’s knee was dislocated and she was also taken to hospital, where the injury is to be assessed for a suspected hairline fracture.
“A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and remained in custody on Friday lunchtime.
“Elsewhere in the city, a wanted man was spotted walking in New Road on Thursday morning. While he was being detained, he allegedly became aggressive and abusive.
“A 35-year-old man, of no fixed address, was arrested on suspicion of common assault of an emergency worker, assault by beating of an emergency worker, a racially aggravated public order offence and failing to appear in court. He also remained in custody on Friday.”
Deputy Chief Constable Jo Shiner said that being attacked should never be seen as “part of the job”.
She said: “Working for the police can be a dangerous and unpredictable job and every day our brave officers and staff work hard, often in difficult and challenging circumstances, to keep people safe.
“Being assaulted while they are doing that is completely unacceptable and must never be seen as part of the job.
“Since 2017 we have worked with the Police Federation, the Superintendents’ Association and Unison to get a better picture of how many officers are being assaulted as many were just shrugging off minor and sometimes more serious incidents and not reporting them.
