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Seven police officers have been injured in three separate incidents locally in the past 24 hrs. A total of twenty police officers were injured in total in the same period across Northern Ireland.
Speaking on the incidents Superintendent Rosie Thompson said: “Between Friday evening, 13th December and Saturday morning, 14th December the officers were injured while on duty – some of whom sustained serious injuries that required medical treatment."
An officer is being treated for a serious thumb injury after being assaulted while responding to a disturbance in the Newry area. He was also kicked by the suspect who has since been charged to appear before court.
Another Newry-based officer sustained a suspected broken nose and three of his colleagues were injured while responding to a domestic-related report in the Mountnorris area. During the incident officers were spat at and sustained limb injuries when attempting to effect an arrest.
Another two officers were injured as a result of a deliberate patrol vehicle ramming in the Concession Road area of Crossmaglen after a white VW Golf attempted to put the patrol car off the road. One of the injured officers was involved in five prior police vehicle rammings. Both officers were left extremely shaken by what happened and were unable to remain on duty. The patrol vehicle is now not road worthy – and the suspect vehicle has since been recovered across the border and enquiries are continuing.
“This latest report comes after the Police Service revealed a total of 58 police officers have been injured as a result of similar incidents this year.
Other officers were injured in Craigavon, Derrygonnelly, Derry and Belfast.
Superintendent Thompson added “We will investigate these shameful and unacceptable attacks rigorously. These are just some of the examples to highlight the risks our officers face every day.
“Our officers are here to help, and respond to calls assisting people, keeping them safe.
“Assaults on police are unacceptable, and must not be tolerated as simply being ‘part of the job’.”
