A MAN has been arrested following a racially aggravated assault on a police officer.

Officers were called to Eastern Road, Brighton, at about 6am on Saturday to a report of a man damaging a taxi.

When they arrived, the man assaulted the taxi driver and then racially abused and punched the police officer in the face.

A 37-year-old man from Hove was arrested on suspicion of racially or religiously aggravated harassment with fear of violence, assault by beating of an emergency worker, assaulting a person thereby causing them actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

He has since been released under investigation and passed into the care of medical staff while the investigation continues.

Rachel Swinney, Chief Inspector for Brighton and Hove, said: “Our officers are not just police officers they are also part of the community. They will often go above and beyond to protect and serve the public.

“Our officers and staff come from many different backgrounds – they are mothers, fathers, carers, best friends and loved ones – and they do not deserve to be abused and assaulted in the line of duty. We won’t tolerate this behaviour.”