POLICE officers in Dorset have been attacked dozens of times during the coronavirus pandemic, figures reveal.

The number of assaults across the county has been described as ‘abhorrent’ by Dorset Police, who say officers signed up to protect the public and instead face the risk of abuse on a daily basis.

Home Office data shows 62 attacks on police officers were recorded by Dorset Police between April 2020 and March 2021.

That was a fall from the 117 reported the previous year.

Of the attacks in 2020-21, 52 resulted in an injury to the officer, compared to 87 the previous year, while in 10 cases the officer escaped physically unhurt.

Dorset Police Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya said: “Our officers and staff demonstrate commitment, courage and dedication on a daily basis. They signed up to help protect the public, not to come into work each day with the risk of being assaulted, attacked or verbally abused.

“We will not tolerate assaults on our officers or our emergency services colleagues and will continue to deal swiftly and robustly with any offences of this nature. Also, we will do all we can to protect our officers and ensure those who are subjected to these abhorrent attacks are supported within the Force.

“The impact such assaults can have on our officers and staff, their colleagues and their families can have serious consequences and we will do all we can to bring criminal proceedings against those responsible.

“Dorset Police will relentlessly pursue perpetrators who exhibit violence and aggression toward blue light workers.”

The figures contrast with a jump in such attacks across England and Wales, where recorded assaults on officers increased 14 per cent during the pandemic period, to around 37,000.

They included 11,200 which left officers injured.

John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation for England and Wales, said the data showed the "disgusting level of violence" faced by officers working throughout the pandemic.

He said: "More than 100 of my colleagues are assaulted every single day – that’s a staggering number and something society must not accept.

"Many of these recorded attacks involve vile individuals who have spat on or coughed at police officers, weaponising the virus and threatening to spread it to them and their families."

Under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill, the maximum prison sentence for common assault on an emergency worker, including a police officer, is 12 months.

Mr Apter added: "This unjustified violence is a stain on society and needs to be dealt with robustly.”

The figures released by the Home Office also show in Dorset there were no attacks recorded on emergency workers, other than police officers, which resulted in injury during 2020-21.

Across England and Wales, that number was 2,282.

The Home Office said it had provided funding to police forces in England and Wales for more than 7,000 Taser devices to help protect officers.