Attacks on police officers in the UK have been rising - with an interactive map showing the places in Essex where officers are most likely to be assaulted. Last year there were more than 44,000 assaults on police officers in England and Wales, with one in four attacks causing injury to the officer. That was a nine per cent increase from about 41,000 assaults in 2022 and 48 per cent higher than five years ago before the pandemic in 2019 when there were under 33,000 incidents.
But our map shows that police officers are far more likely to be attacked in some parts of the country than others. In Essex, the three areas where officers are most likely to get assaulted is Harlow, Basildon and Southend. In Harlow in 2023, there were 96 assaults with ten of those resulting in serious injuries, with 349.
5 attacks per 100,000 people from 2021 to 2023. In Southend, there were 208 attacks in 2023, 15 of which caused serious injuries, with 364.8 attacks per 100,000 people in the same period.
Read more: Essex pub slapped with huge fine after illegally showing Sky Sports programmes to customers Read more: Tributes to 'beautiful' teenage girl 'loved by all' tragically killed in Billericay crash But it is Basildon that is the most likely area for police to be attacked, with 254 assaults in 2023 where 41 victims suffered serious injuries, with 366.4 attacks per 100,000 people from 2021 to 2023. To see the results in our area, view our interactive map below.
In 2023 more officers were assaulted i.
