THE chairman of the Hampshire Police Federation is calling for mandatory prison sentences for people who assault police.

John Apter has led the campaign for better support for officers in Hampshire, saying that police officers are employed to protect the public and that being verbally and physically assaulted is not part of their job description.

Figures obtained by the Home Office show that during a 12 month period between April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016, there were 1,118 acts of violence against officers and staff across Hampshire, with 305 of these resulting in injury.

Last weekend there were 10 reported incidents where officers required hospital treatment due to being punched, kicked, spat at or had their eyes gouged.

Mr Apter is now calling for officers to have better equipment, such as Tasers, to deal with situations where they could be at risk of harm.

He said: “It is important the public see the reality of policing and the level of violence used against our officers on a daily basis. The vast majority of the public would be appalled at the number of police officers who are assaulted every day across the country.

“Police officers perform a difficult and dangerous job on behalf of the public, being assaulted is not just part of the job and must never be seen as such.”

Mr Apter added: “I have no doubt that part of the reason some see assaulting a police officer as being acceptable is because of the lenient sentences often imposed by the courts.

“I want to see mandatory prison sentences for anybody who assaults a public official. There must be a consequence for those intent on assaulting police officers or any other public worker.

“They are not society’s punch bags and they deserve the support of Government and the wider judicial system.”