Attacks on gardai are on the increase, shock new figures released by the force have revealed.
A staggering 2,411 officers were assaulted over the past decade - an average of 240 a year.
The number of attacks went from 144 in 2012 to 241 last year.
A total of 196 gardai were attacked on duty so far this year up until October 14. The figures were obtained from the Garda Pulse network for recorded crime.
The worst year for Garda assaults was 2019 with 247 attacks.
The Justice Minister Helen McEntee condemned the increase in attacks on gardai and other member of frontline services.
She fumed: ”Attacks on the members of An Garda Siochana not only injure the victims but communities as a whole.
“An attack on our police force is an attack on the safety of us all.
“It is imperative that frontline workers are protected in carrying out their work and that law reflects and responds to the situations they find themselves in.”
The minister said in a move to protect gardai she will increase the maximum sentence for assault causing bodily harm from 12 months to 10 years' jail.
Anyone accused of assaulting a garda and members of the fire and ambulance services will soon get seven years if convicted, instead of five years and a fine.
She also confirmed €6 million is to be spent next year on new ballistic vests to protect frontline gardai.
The minister added: ”We are all immensely grateful to members of our police service for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role they play in our society.”
There has been growing public alarm over growing anti-social behaviour on the streets, especially on the Dublin area, where a number of officers were injured in sporadic incidents.
The Government is also planning new laws to clamp down on the use of scramblers and quad bikes in public places the age of youngster permitted to drive them.
She was responding to a written Dail question from Peadar Toibin TD.
READ NEXT:
- David Byrne's face was reconstructed so family could have open coffin at funeral after Regency shooting horror
Man stabbed to death in drunken row in Dublin as garda investigation intensifies
The Covid symptom that people no longer seem to suffer with as new list confirmed
Firefighters pelted with stones and bottles in Clare town overrun with anti-social behaviour
