At least nine police officers are assaulted every day in Northern Ireland, according to the Police Federation of Northern Ireland (PFNI), which is calling for tougher sentencing and greater public awareness of the issue.
The federation described the figure as “conservative,” highlighting that many minor assaults on officers go unreported. PFNI Chairman Liam Kelly said it was “shocking and appalling” that frontline police regularly face violence, including being kicked, punched, and spat on, simply for performing their duties.
The call for action follows a recent surge in violence across several areas of Northern Ireland, where 64 officers were injured during nights of unrest involving petrol bombs, fireworks, and bricks hurled at police.
Calls for Tougher Sentencing and Public Support
Launching the “Let Them Protect” campaign, Mr Kelly urged lawmakers and courts to impose decisive and tough sentences on those who attack police officers. “It’s high time we saw a much tougher approach with assailants who strike, kick, punch, and spit at our colleagues,” he said. “These officers are fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters. They deserve to go home safely.”
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher echoed those concerns, stating: “Being attacked is not part of a normal day at work, and it never should be.”
Justice Minister Naomi Long also condemned the assaults, saying society must abandon the mindset that police officers should “price this into the job they do.” She warned against treating attacks on police as a “recreational pastime,” noting the long-term physical and mental damage such assaults cause.
Real-Life Impact: Officer Shares Her Experience
Inspector Róisín Brown, who was attacked in 2024 while policing a concert in Belfast, shared her traumatic experience. After intervening with a violent and intoxicated individual, she was punched in the face and lost consciousness. She later suffered post-concussion syndrome and memory loss, forcing her off duty for three weeks.
“I’m forgetting where I park my car, leaving lights on, forgetting a lot,” Insp Brown said. She also described the emotional toll, feeling guilty for being away from her colleagues on the front line.
Policing Board: Officers Should Not Be Targets
Mukesh Sharma, Chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, emphasised that officers “step forward when others step back,” and must never be subjected to violence. “They do not deserve to come to work to be kicked, bitten, or assaulted,” he said.
The PSNI and the PFNI are now urging the public, the courts, and policymakers to recognise that police officer assaults in Northern Ireland are not just statistics—they represent real harm to those protecting the community.
