The Police Federation for Northern Ireland has launched their ‘Let Them Protect’ campaign to highlight assaults on officers and how they impact on services to communities.
Speaking at the launch event Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: "I am extremely pleased to lend my support to this new campaign by the Police Federation and help bring attention to the wholly unacceptable levels of attack and assault on my officers and staff as they go about their job of keeping communities safe."
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher , Police Service of Northern IrelandBeing attacked should never be thought of as part of anyone’s ‘normal day’ at work.
"Policing is a tough profession and the officers and staff of the Police Service who stand up to serve the people of Northern Ireland deserve nothing but our admiration and respect. Every one of them does a vital job and whilst they come to work knowing that on any given day they could be faced with difficult and dangerous situations, what we should never accept, is for them to be physically assaulted.
Being attacked should never be thought of as part of anyone’s ‘normal day’ at work.
We are incredibly fortunate to have the policing that we do in Northern Ireland but we cannot continue to take that policing for granted. Support for policing, and for our police officers, needs to be society wide, and it should be recognised and understood that it is simply not acceptable to assault or attack police officers. We cannot, and will not, simply stand by and accept it.
I will continue to work hard, in tandem with the PFNI, to highlight the issue of attacks on police and engage our partners in the Department of Justice around sentencing guidelines for those who have carried out an assault on a police officer.”
