Chief Constable condemns violent attacks on police officers

Chief Constable Chris Noble has condemned two separate, violent attacks on police officers which happened in Stoke-on-Trent overnight.

Two police officers were strangled after responding to reports of an assault in a house near to Corporation Street, in Stoke, at 12.20am this morning (Thursday 11 July).

When the officers tried to arrest the suspect, both were thrown to the floor and strangled. One of the officers also suffered an elbow injury and the other had a shoulder injury.

Another officer, who arrived to support the two officers, suffered a sprained ankle.

All three officers went to hospital and have been discharged.

A 33-year-old man, from Stoke-on-Trent, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of two counts of intentional strangulation and three counts of assault on an emergency worker. He remains in custody.

In another incident this morning (11 July), an officer who responded to an incident at Tunstall Cemetery was assaulted. She too had to go to hospital for treatment. A 42-year-old man, from Stoke-on-Trent, was also arrested on suspicion of assault on an emergency worker. He remains in custody.

Chief Constable Chris Noble said: “These are shocking cases where police officers have been assaulted and needed hospital treatment. These are real people, serving their communities, who don't deserve to be assaulted just for just doing their job. Being assaulted isn’t ‘part of the job’, and in many ways such assaults are an attack on our community itself.

“Police officers and staff make sacrifices and confront danger every day to protect the public. Tonight, Thursday 11 July, the extraordinary acts of courage carried out by police officers will be celebrated at the national Police Bravery Awards, including two officers from Staffordshire. The officers helped save the life of a vulnerable woman who was unconscious in her home. Whilst we see and recognise extraordinary acts of bravery on nights like tonight – courage in policing is common place across Staffordshire every single day.

“I will continue to do all I can to support officers attacked on duty and bring the perpetrators to justice. I greatly value the staff who keep us safe every night and day and I know the public of Staffordshire do too.”