POLICE are "disappointed" the number of assaults on West Yorkshire emergency workers has increased but are glad to see more cases are going through the courts.

Home Office figures show West Yorkshire Police recorded 2,254 assaults on emergency workers in the year to March.

Most of the alleged victims were police constables – there were 1,743 assaults without injury on PCs last year and 433 with injury, while there were 78 on other emergency workers.

The total number recorded last year was up from 2,249 in 2020-21 when assaults on emergency workers who are not police constables were recorded for the first time.

In West Yorkshire, 2,225 emergency worker assault investigations concluded last year, with 68 per cent resulting in a charge or summons – which was unchanged from the rate in 2020-21.

In the last month, the Telegraph & Argus has reported on several Bradford cases that have ended up in jail time for the offender.

Tomasz Henryk Krystyna Sic, 43, of Ings Close, was jailed for 12 months after assaulting emergency workers at Trafalgar House police station.

Ajaz Ahmed, 52, of Heath Road, was handed an additional month on his prison sentence for assaulting a police officer at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) by throwing a water bottle at her.

Assistant Chief Constable Catherine Hankinson, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “Assaulting an emergency service worker is totally unacceptable and these latest figures are an indication as to what our officers and staff are sadly subjected to.

“We understand there has been a slight increase in such assaults in West Yorkshire over the last 12 months.

"While this is disappointing, it remains the case that prosecution rates for those who assault emergency workers are higher here than the national average.

“The force has put a number of measures in place to assist prosecutions for offending against police staff including the pioneering development of a Chief Constable’s statement which is shared with Courts to highlight the personal impact on victims.

“Body worn video also of course allows officers and staff to capture the circumstances leading up to an assault. This can also act as a deterrent to incidents occurring in the first place.

“We continue to encourage colleagues to report offences, rather than simply accepting them as part of their job and have a full plan in place to support any member of staff who is a victim of such behaviour."