Darren Harris, chair of Suffolk Police Federation
- Credit: Jason Bye
Frontline officers will be dealing with an unprecedented number of challenges over the coming months as lockdown restrictions are lifted, the county s police federation has warned.
The return of the night-time economy and the rearranged European Championships alongside the easing of coronavirus restrictions will mean a hectic summer for officers, Darren Harris, chairman of Suffolk Police Federation, said.
“The reality is that we’re in for a really busy summer, all the way through into autumn and winter,” he said.
“We’re reopening up. The night-time economy is going to start up again.
Darren Harris, chair of Suffolk Police Federation
- Credit: Jason Bye
Frontline officers will be dealing with an unprecedented number of challenges over the coming months as lockdown restrictions are lifted, the county s police federation has warned.
The return of the night-time economy and the rearranged European Championships alongside the easing of coronavirus restrictions will mean a hectic summer for officers, Darren Harris, chairman of Suffolk Police Federation, said.
“The reality is that we’re in for a really busy summer, all the way through into autumn and winter,” he said.
“We’re reopening up. The night-time economy is going to start up again.
He said more should be done to make the crime socially unacceptable. It is still a big issue in Suffolk and nationally, said Mr Harris. But it cannot continue to be acceptable for our officers to be assaulted. It is not part of their day job. We need to record these incidents, support our officers, and prosecute those who assault them.
Last year, ministers brought forward legislation to double the maximum sentence for those convicted of assaults on frontline staff including police officers, firefighters and paramedics.
It was the second change in two years, after a 2018 law increased the maximum sentence from six months to a year.
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