POLICE officers are being attacked at an average rate of 40 every week in West Yorkshire, according to Police Federation figures.

The organisation, which represents every member of the police force up to the rank of Chief Inspector, revealed there has been 1,366 assaults on officers between April 2017 and April 2018.

In Bradford alone, there were 23 attacks on police officers in the last week compared to 18 across the rest of the region.

EDITOR'S COMMENT: We must protect the protectors

READ MORE: Shocking figures reveal attacks on police

Brian Booth, chairman of West Yorkshire Police Federation, said the attacks will not be allowed to continue.

He said: "The Police Service is struggling to keep up with demand in relation to budget cuts and lower officer numbers, we need the people of Bradford to look after their officers.

"Some individuals think that spitting at officers is acceptable, the danger of this is from the likes of Hepatitis C and the officer contracting it.

"This has a knock on effect for the officer, their family and the public.

"What is sometimes forgotten is that the officers are humans with families, can you imagine what it is like turning up to a family wedding with missing teeth and black eyes, the effects are far reaching."

Efforts to crackdown on the number of attacks seen on emergency services have been stepped up in the last 12 months.

This includes the new "Protect the Protectors" bill - which received royal assent last year and means tougher sentences for those who assault people who work in 999 teams.

Mr Booth added: “Assaults on police officers are never acceptable and we will be ensuring that the new Assault on Emergency Workers Legislation, which came into effect in November 2018, is fully utilised.

"We are seeing around 40 officers a week being assaulted in all areas of West Yorkshire and this includes Bradford.

"Prior to the new legislation coming in to effect last year, I dealt with a case in Bradford whereby two officers attended a violent domestic.

"Upon arrival the male who had allegedly been violent was calm.

" Due to the allegations made at the scene there was a need to arrest the individual and he became violent.

"He was drunk and incredibly well built, during the arrest a violent struggle ensued, the offender assaulted one of the officers with his own handcuffs causing a cut to his forehead.

"This needed gluing at hospital."

Temporary/Deputy Chief Constable Russ Foster, of West Yorkshire Police, said they have put deterrents in place, like body worn cameras, in the hope that people recognise they are being recorded by police officers.

He added: “All assaults on police officers and police staff are totally and utterly unacceptable.

"As a Force we have developed an eight point plan outlining our proactive approach to tackling this issue which includes providing care and welfare support to our staff who are exposed to such reprehensible behaviour and by an increased emphasis on our officers and police staff to formally record the crime and by embracing the Assaults on Emergency Workers Act which was introduced in November 2018 o ensure that offenders are brought to justice."