The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A police sergeant was head-butted and spat at while arresting a man suspected of robbing a Donington store with a knife.
The incident on Sunday, April 22 was one of nine assaults reported on officers across Lincolnshire over last weekend.
The assault came hours after a man brandished a knife to steal two packets of cigarettes from Bargain Booze at High Street in Donington at 7pm.
The assault on the police sergeant occurred when a suspect was arrested at 11.50pm that evening.
Lincolnshire Police say the sergeant suffered a split lip.
A man appeared before Lincoln Magistrates on Tuesday charged with possessing a knife in a public place, using threatening/abusive behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke violence, robbery and assaulting a constable.
The case was adjourned.
In separate weekend incidents, two PCs were bitten while arresting a man last Friday and six officers were injured dealing with a woman who was trying to kick down a door.
One officer was bitten on the hand during the incident.
In total 271 Lincolnshire Police officers and staff were assaulted in 2017, according to the force.
Chief Constable Bill Skelly branded the attacks as ‘appalling’.
“This number of assaults on staff in such a short space of time highlights how our staff are placing themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis in order to protect the vulnerable, keep communities safe and prevent and detect crime,” he said.
“We have a duty to protect the public but we are all too often prevented from doing so due to violent individuals who choose to attack those who are there to help them.
“It is never acceptable to assume assaults upon police officers and staff should be tolerated; they are not simply ‘part of the job.’ Any presumption that a member of the police service should expect, or accept being abused or subjected to violent behaviour, is wrong.”
