FOI 291/25 Assaults on Officers
Enquiry Reference: 291- 25
I write in connection with regards to your Freedom of Information request. Below is your request and our response.
Please provide the following information regarding assaults on police officers within the force's area:
- The total number of reported assaults on police officers for each of the past three calendar years (2022, 2023, 2024).
Answer
Below table shows the number of records whereby any of the assault on constable crime stat codes are used. This is broken into the years 2022-2024:
|
Years |
Count |
|
2022 |
756 |
|
2023 |
757 |
|
2024 |
773 |
|
Grand Total |
2286 |
- A breakdown of these assaults by type (e.g., physical, verbal, with/without a weapon, etc.).
Answer
Below table uses the same method as above but with the offence HO class included. It also shows whether the ‘weapon’ marked of interest code is included in the record as per the request:
|
HO class/Year |
No Weapon |
Weapon |
Grand Total |
|
005/01 - Assault with Injury on a Constable or PCSO on Duty Cause GBH with intent to resist/prevent arrest Offences against the person Act 1861 Sec 18 |
23 |
3 |
26 |
|
2022 |
16 |
2 |
18 |
|
2023 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
2024 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
008/01 - Sec 20 Assault with Injury on a Constable or PCSO whilst on Duty Malicious wounding: wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm. Sec 20 Offences against the Person Act 1861 |
7 |
3 |
10 |
|
2022 |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
2023 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
2024 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
008/06 - Assault with Injury on a Constable or PCSO on Duty Causing Assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Offences against the Person Act 1861 Sec 47 |
388 |
12 |
400 |
|
2022 |
115 |
4 |
119 |
|
2023 |
131 |
2 |
133 |
|
2024 |
142 |
6 |
148 |
|
008/73 - Assault or assault by beating on a constable |
1803 |
43 |
1846 |
|
2022 |
598 |
14 |
612 |
|
2023 |
605 |
9 |
614 |
|
2024 |
600 |
20 |
620 |
|
104/30 - Assault on constable (local acts) |
4 |
4 |
|
|
2022 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
2023 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
2024 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Grand Total |
2225 |
61 |
2286 |
- The number of officers who sustained injuries as a result of these assaults, broken down by severity (e.g., minor, serious, requiring hospitalization).
- The number of officers who were unable to work as a result of injuries sustained in these assaults, along with the average duration of absence.
Answer to question 3&4
Injuries on Duty
|
Year |
Number |
Moving Mean |
Disposition* |
Incident Rate/1000 |
|
2019/20 |
276 |
257 |
2201 |
125 |
|
2020/21 |
251 |
258 |
2370 |
105 |
|
2021/22 |
179 |
242 |
2436 |
73 |
|
2022/23 |
196 |
232 |
2514 |
78 |
|
2023/24 |
276 |
235 |
2577 |
107 |
|
2024/25 to 21/03/25 |
466 |
274 |
2596 |
179 |
RIDDORs.
|
Year |
HSE(RIDDOR) |
% OF Total Injuries |
Disposition* |
Incident Rate/1000 |
|
2019/20 |
19 |
7% |
2201 |
9 |
|
2020/21 |
26 |
10% |
2370 |
11 |
|
2021/22 |
25 |
14% |
2436 |
10 |
|
2022/23 |
24 |
12% |
2514 |
9 |
|
2023/24 |
30 |
11% |
2577 |
12 |
|
2024/25 |
25 |
5% |
2596 |
10 |
*(Disposition figure is the total of Police Offices, PCSOs, Special Constabulary and Police Staff as of 21/03/2025)
**(Incidence rate = injuries/Disposition x1000).
Injuries by status (RIDDORs in brackets).
|
Year |
PCSO |
Police Officer |
Police Staff |
Special Constabulary |
Total |
|
2019/20 |
11 |
251 |
14 |
0 |
276 |
|
2020/21 |
5 |
232 |
12 |
2 |
251 |
|
2021/22 |
4 |
165 |
9 |
1 |
179 |
|
2022/23 |
13(0) |
161(23) |
22(1) |
0 |
196 |
|
2023/24 |
13(2) |
244(25) |
16(1) |
3(2) |
276 |
|
2024/25 |
9 (0) |
418(22) |
25(2) |
14(1) |
466 |
- Any measures, policies, or training programs implemented by Durham Constabulary in response to these assaults to protect officers and mitigate risks.
Answer
No Policy held
- If available, any statistics on prosecutions or legal actions taken against individuals responsible for these assaults.
Answer
It the duty of Cleveland Police to identify, apprehend suspects, decisions regarding prosecutions are the responsibility of the Crown Prosecution Service and Convictions is that of HM Courts Service therefore Conviction data is held by HM Courts.
Please note that all statistical data supplied in relation to Freedom of Information requests is a snapshot of data held at the time the request was received by the Freedom of Information office and is subject to constant change/updates.
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https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-code-of-practice
Yours sincerely
Information Rights Decision Maker