ATTACKS on Sussex Police officers have risen by 16 per cent.

On the day the new figures were released, three officers were attacked in Brighton and Hove, with two taken to hospital.

There were 1,033 assaults on officers in 2018/19 – an average of three a day. Of these, 288 resulted in injuries.

The total is 16 per cent more than the number of assaults recorded four years ago – 890.

Officers were kicked, punched and scratched, suffered bruising, dislocations, fractures and concussions.

They are regularly spat at, which in many cases means a worrying wait for the results of HIV and hepatitis tests.

The shocking figures come as a police officer was killed in Berkshire on Thursday evening.

Ten people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of PC Andrew Harper, of Thames Valley Police.

Deputy Chief Constable Jo Shiner, of Sussex Police, said such assaults must never be seen as “part of the job”.

She said: “Working for the police can be a dangerous and unpredictable job and every day our brave officers and staff work hard, often in difficult and challenging circumstances, to keep people safe.

“Being assaulted while they are doing that is completely unacceptable and must never be seen as part of the job.”

As reported on page 6 today, two officers attending an address in Hove to conduct a welfare check were both attacked.

One was punched several times in the head, resulting in concussion.

He was taken to Brighton’s Royal Sussex County Hospital where he remained overnight.

During the fracas, his colleague’s knee was dislocated and she was also taken to hospital, where the injury is to be assessed for a suspected hairline fracture.

A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and remained in custody yesterday.

Elsewhere in the city, a wanted man spotted walking in New Road on Thursday morning allegedly became aggressive and abusive.

A 35-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested on suspicion of common assault of an emergency worker, assault by beating of an emergency worker, a racially aggravated public order offence and failing to appear in court.

He also remained in custody on Friday.

DCC Shiner said: “Since 2017 we have worked with the Police Federation, the Superintendents’ Association and Unison to get a better picture of how many officers are being assaulted as many were just shrugging off minor and sometimes more serious incidents and not reporting them.

“Every day officers go out on the frontline to protect the public and this often means helping them at times when they are going through or find themselves in challenging or difficult situations.

“While distressing, this does not give anyone the right to physically or verbally assault our officers or staff.

“If anyone in the force is assaulted while on duty the impact can be both physically and psychologically significant.

“Not only is that individual affected, but also their team and their family.

“While assaults on officers and staff do occur, we are committed to doing everything we can to reduce these.

“However, when they do happen, we will do all that we can to support those affected.

“We believe a significant majority of the public would also support that message and hope that an assault on any emergency worker will be seen as the crime that it is and completely unacceptable.”

Matt Webb, chairman of the Sussex Police Federation, said: “Every day my members, the rank and file officers of Sussex Police, go out to serve our communities, to protect the vulnerable and to prevent harm.

“An assault on any one of them is an assault on society and should never be seen as part of the job.

“No other profession would be expected to accept such an attitude and neither should we.

“We continue to work closely with the force to ensure when these incidents occur individuals are supported and seen as the victims of crime that they are.

“We have taken huge steps forward in this area in recent years and will continue to work together to improve the situation further.

“There remains work to be done to ensure that offenders are always charged with the correct offence to ensure proportionate and appropriate sentencing powers are available to the courts.”