Charges under new law welcomed by West Mercia Police commissioner
West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion has welcomed a man being charged under a new bill to protect emergency workers.
Mr Campion said that nobody should come to work expecting to be assaulted.
His comments come after a 54 year old man from Worcester became one of the first people to be charged under the Assault on Emergency Workers Bill.
The man was arrested on Tuesday morning, after police were called to a domestic incident. He is alleged to have punched two police officers, in the arm and jaw, causing bruising. The man has been charged with two counts of assault on officers and resisting arrest.
“No one should come to work expecting to be assaulted," Mr Campion said.
"The change in law is something which I’ve long campaigned for as part of my Behind the Badge and I’m pleased to see it being used to protect our hard working officers and staff.”
The Assault on Emergency Workers Bill came into effect in November 2018, and makes certain offences aggravated when committed against emergency workers, giving courts the power to impose stronger sentences, doubling the maximum sentence for an assault against an emergency worker from six to 12 months in prison.
