Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of assaults on police officers on levels of sickness absence and workforce retention.

The Government is clear that assaults against police officers are completely unacceptable. Officers should be able to carry out their duties without fear of violence, and we are committed to ensuring they have the protection, support and wellbeing provision they need throughout their careers.

The Police Covenant recognises the unique risks and pressures faced by those working in policing and seeks to ensure that the police workforce is not disadvantaged as a result of their role. Improving the physical protection, health and wellbeing of officers are core elements of the Covenant. Assaults can have both physical and psychological consequences, affecting health, sickness absence and retention. It is therefore important that we continue to work together with policing to improve the quality and consistency of data on assaults, so that the scale and nature of violence against police can be better understood and used to inform prevention and support.

We continue to fund the National Police Wellbeing Service, which works directly with forces through Operation Hampshire to support the consistent reporting, investigation and, where appropriate, prosecution of assaults against police officers and staff.

The Home Office already issues guidance to forces on recording police assaults, and work is ongoing with policing partners to improve data quality, including consideration of what further information about the circumstances and location of assaults would be valuable to collect to strengthen the national picture.

The Government recognises that police officers can face an increased risk of assault when carrying out duties that require close contact with detainees, including during arrest, transport and custody procedures. Managing these risks is an operational matter for chief constables, who are responsible for ensuring officers receive appropriate training, guidance and equipment to carry out their duties safely.