Justice minister condemns assaults on police officers across NI

Justice minister condemns assaults on police officers across NI

Justice Minister Naomi Long has strongly denounced recent assaults on police officers, describing such actions as “utterly unacceptable.” The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) reported that 14 officers were attacked during the night of Friday, 26 December, and the early hours of Saturday, 27 December. Among those officers, one required hospital treatment after sustaining a bite injury. Minister Long emphasized that “one attack on a police officer is one attack too many.”

Long highlighted the personal sacrifices made by police officers, reminding the public that they are not only professionals but also family members who miss time with their loved ones during the holiday season in order to protect communities. She urged that officers deserve to carry out their duties without fear of assault, stating, “It is utterly unacceptable that any police officer should come under attack for simply doing their job.” Furthermore, she asserted that such attacks affect everyone, noting that injured officers are unable to work and damaged vehicles hinder emergency responses. She also reaffirmed her plans to introduce legislation that would impose harsher penalties on individuals who assault police officers or others performing public duties.

PSNI Chief Inspector Adam Ruston expressed his concern regarding the number of assaults, calling it “a shocking amount” and completely unacceptable. He warned that this kind of behavior endangers both officers and the public, and the force was fortunate that more serious injuries had not occurred. The police have launched an appeal following an incident in the early hours of 27 December in Forkhill, where a silver Renault Megane collided with a police patrol car on Church Road before fleeing across the border. Two officers were hurt in the crash. Inspector Ruston urged anyone with information or footage related to the event to come forward.

Statistics from the PSNI indicate that between October 2024 and September 2025, there have been 2,630 assaults on officers. During the current calendar year, over 100 police vehicles have been involved in ramming incidents, with 21 vehicles requiring repairs that have cost an estimated £140,000. In an effort to address these concerns, the PSNI recently launched a dash-cam pilot scheme in the southern area aimed at reducing attacks on officers and their vehicles

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