A North Wales Police sergeant who was assaulted while on duty has called on her colleagues to ensure they report any attacks on them so the true scale of the problem is known.
Sgt Kim Owen, who is stationed in Bangor, also wants the Force to provide better occupational health services for officers who are victims of “unacceptable” assaults.
She was attacked just before Christmas last year and needed hospital treatment. For five months she then received physiotherapy and acupuncture.
Sgt Owen spoke out at the national conference of the Police Federation of her own experience of being assaulted and writes in the latest edition of “Your Voice”, the North Wales Federation newsletter.
She said: “On the night of the assault I felt very lucky to walk away with only whiplash-type injuries to my neck, shoulder and back, but it could have been much worse.”
Her attackers subsequently received suspended sentences and were ordered to pay Sgt Owen compensation.
She said she received great support from her immediate supervisors on the night and, while on sick leave, was called by the duty superintendent and Chief Constable Mark Polin.
“This made a difference and I didn’t feel like just a number or another statistic,” she said.
'It’s not part of our job to be assaulted'
Having been assaulted previously, Sgt Owen felt it was an accepted part of the job, “but,” she went on “It’s not part of our job to be assaulted and it’s not acceptable.”
Her recovery took longer than expected and as she recuperated at home she thought “It’s not just about me, it’s also about my two children who deserve to have their mum home from work in one piece”.
In a victim personal statement she described how scared she had been and how her injuries had prevented her enjoying Christmas with her children to the full.
“This is something that every officer who is assaulted should be doing as a routine after every assault,” she said.
“Any officer assaulted doing their job is a victim and has a right to be treated as any other victim, and have their thoughts and feelings noted by the court.”
Seven point action plan
The North Wales Force has recently adopted a seven-point plan first rolled out in Hampshire outlining what actions should be taken after assaults on officers and Hampshire makes physiotherapy and mental health specialists immediately available.
“It is clear to me that investment is needed within our own force with occupational health and we certainly shouldn’t be cutting back in this area,” said Sgt Owen, who is chairman of the Sergeant’s Branch Board in North Wales.
“There is a lot more work needed with regard to sentencing for assaults on police which is being progressed alongside discussions with the CPS,” she added.
Read: Locked up today: jail terms handed out in drugs, attempted rape and assault casesProgress welcomed
Inspector Paul McKeown, chairman of the Inspectors’ Branch Board, who also attended the annual conference, welcomed the progress being made in the Force but said the current national statistics did not truly reflect the situation.
“I think when the public see what we are subjected to then they might be a bit more appreciative of how difficult the job is. The IPCC might then get a bit of perspective on police use of force,” he added.
see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-police-sergeant-attacked-11427052
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