Justice Minister Naomi Long has condemned recent attacks on PSNI officers and staff, urging the public to increase their support for the force.

The Minister delivered her message today, Thursday, 19 June, at the launch of a new Police Federation campaign highlighting assaults on police officers and advocating for action to address the issue.

Minister Long revealed that over the past week, during several nights of rioting and disorder, more than 60 officers have sustained injuries in the line of duty. "There is absolutely no justification for such attacks, and they must be unequivocally condemned," she stated.

She emphasised the courage demonstrated by police officers daily, as they "setting aside their own safety as they keep the rest of us safe." The Minister expressed dismay that "shockingly, some people think it is okay to attack or assault a police officer or that it’s simply part of their job. That is just not acceptable." Looking ahead, the Minister reiterated her intention to strengthen legislation aimed at protecting police officers and staff through the forthcoming Sentencing Bill. She confirmed: "This legislation, which I hope to introduce later this year, will include a new offence, with a higher maximum penalty, for assaulting a person who is providing a service to the public, performing a public duty or delivering a public service."

In her concluding remarks, Minister Long stressed the broader implications of assaults on officers: "When an officer is assaulted, they are a victim of crime - a fact that is often not recognised. An assault on an officer is an attack on our whole community, delaying response to serious incidents and putting pressure on already stretched police officer numbers. That could make the difference as to how police respond to an incident that could involve us or our loved ones."

The Minister gave her full backing to the Police Federation's campaign, urging the public to likewise support efforts to stop assaults on police officers.