RCIPS Responds to Assaults Against Police Officers

Over the past two weekends there have been multiple incidents where police officers were assaulted during the execution of their duties.

On Saturday morning, 16 August, officers responded to a report of a domestic incident involving a male who was on bail for a prior incident, and was violating his bail conditions.

As officers attempted to arrest the man, he violently resisted and a struggle ensued, during which a male officer was bitten by the man, and a female officer received minor injuries.

The man, age 26, residing in East End, was eventually arrested and taken into custody for multiple offenses, including resisting arrest and assaulting police.

Later the same night, officers responded to a report that a man had taken a vehicle belonging to someone known to him, without permission.

Officers quickly located the man and the vehicle, and attempted to arrest him. The man resisted, and a struggle ensued, during which an item of police equipment was damaged, and an officer was bitten by a dog at the location. The man, age 28, residing in Bodden Town, was arrested on suspicion of taking a conveyance without owner’s consent, driving without insurance, resisting arrest and damage to property.

On Saturday afternoon, 23 August, an off-duty police officer at Camana Bay observed what appeared to be an altercation between a man and a woman. The officer approached and attempted to make enquiries, identifying herself as a police officer. However, she was struck by the man, who was then restrained by a security guard at the location.

The man, age 40, residing in West Bay, subsequently left the area but was later located and arrested by police on suspicion of assaulting police, assault ABH, and harassment alarm and distress. Based on items found on his person, he was further arrested on suspicion of consumption of ganja and possession of an offensive weapon.

The officers in each of these incidents were taken to hospital for treatment and subsequently discharged.

“Policing is perhaps the only profession where the possibility of being assaulted is something you accept as part of the job. Despite this risk, our police officers serve their communities diligently every single day. However, this does not mean that such actions are condoned by the legal system, or should be seen as acceptable by the public,” says Commissioner of Police Kurt Walton.

“So far this year we have seen 24 incidents during which a police officer was assaulted. It is concerning that there appears to be an uptick in these types of incident, but the public should rest assured that each one is being thoroughly investigated, and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”

“According to section 123 of the Police Act, assaulting a police officer carries a maximum sentence of up to two years. However, it may be time to consider strengthening these penalties, to help send the unmistakable message that assaulting our police officers will not be tolerated.”