Police officers continue to be assaulted while on duty at an alarming rate, the latest crime statistics have revealed.
The March rolling year crime statistics reveal another significant increase in incidents with a 22 per cent surge recorded - 133 incidents - from 615 to 748 offences. The increase is the eighth successive monthly increase in such offending.
The rolling year figures also reveal the number of residential and non-residential break-ins has continued to decrease, along with further reductions in robberies, homicide related offences and theft from retail premises.
While assault police offences rose sharply, the number of serious assaults decreased by three per cent – or 517 incidents – while common assault offences increased by 12 per cent – or 682 offences.
Acting Assistant Commissioner (Metropolitan Operations Service) David O'Donovan said the continuing increase in assaults against police officers was a serious concern.
"The increasing frequency in unacceptable. Policing can be volatile at times, but there is simply no excuse for punching, biting or spitting on a police officer simply doing their job,'' he said.
"While some of these incidents may be minor, many do leave officers with lasting injuries that can impact not just their career, but also their general well-being. It also has a significant impact on their families.
"Significant penalties, including imprisonment, are in place for anyone convicted of assaulting a police officer or an emergency services worker.''
The rolling year figures reveal robbery, blackmail and extortion offences decreased by 13 per cent – from 749 to 650 offences – a fall of 99 incidents.
Within that category robbery offences declined by 11 per cent – from 501 to 447 reported offences – or 54 fewer incidents.
The continual targeting of recidivist offenders has resulted in the number of reported residential break-ins decreasing by five per cent – from 5,827 to 5,541 incidents – or 286 fewer offences. Non-residential break-ins decreased by four per cent – from 3,485 to 3,350 incidents – or 135 fewer reported offences.
In the theft category there was a five per cent decrease in reported offences overall – from 51,921 to 49,399 reported offences – or 2,522 fewer incidents.
Within that category motor vehicle theft and related offences increased by one per cent – from 11,265 to 11,330 reported offences – or 65 more incidents.
Theft from retail premises continued to decline with a decrease of eight per cent – from 23,652 to 21,732 reported offences – or 1,920 fewer incidents.
The rolling year figures reveal homicide related offences decreased by 11 per cent – rom 55 to 49 reported offences.
Within that category murder decreased by 17 per cent – from 12 to 10 reported incidents- and attempted murder decreased by 18 per cent – from 22 to 18 reported offences. Manslaughter or driving causing death offences remained steady with 21 reported offences.
