The PSNI has said that 25 officers were injured while on duty in Northern Ireland over a 24-hour period.
Superintendent Nigel Henry said seven officers were assaulted in a single incident in Belfast and two were injured after their vehicle was rammed in Newry, Co Down.
“Between Saturday morning and Sunday morning, 3rd and 4th February, across Northern Ireland, 25 police officers have been injured on duty, resulting in eight arrests for assault on police,” he said.
“While thankfully no officers received any serious injuries and all were able to remain on duty, these assaults on our officers while simply doing their job is not acceptable.
“Across Belfast alone, 18 officers were injured, which included seven officers in one incident.
“While arresting a woman following a report of criminal damage in north Belfast, one officer was spat at, with six others kicked and punched.
“An officer was bitten by a man in Banbridge, who was being arrested following a report of an assault.
“Two officers received minor injuries after their vehicle was rammed several times in Newry on Saturday night.”
He added that “assaults on police are unacceptable, and must not be tolerated as simply being ‘part of the job’”.
Following the incident in Newry, a 37-year-old man was arrested a short time later on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, using a motor vehicle without insurance and various other motoring offences.
Liam Kelly, chairman of the Police Federation, said: “Our officers do not deserve to be spat at, bitten, kicked and punched as they go about performing their lawful duty.
“They are there to uphold the law and protect people and are certainly not there to be treated so disgracefully.”
He added: “These attacks will be fully and rigorously investigated and my hope is that we will see people prosecuted.
“When they are before the courts, I hope sentences are handed down that reflect the seriousness of assaulting officers.
“Society has to send a clear message to would-be thugs.
“Officers are not there to be singled out for attack and only stiffer sentencing will get that message through to those who think they can behave in this manner with minimum consequences.”
