Naomi Long: Attacks on police “are an attack on us all”

Justice Minister Naomi Long has spoken out strongly against recent violence directed at police officers, describing attacks on the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) as “an attack on our whole community” and vowing to introduce tougher penalties for offenders.

The Minister made her remarks while attending the launch of a Police Federation campaign aimed at raising awareness of assaults on PSNI officers and pushing for stronger action to protect those serving on the front line.

Speaking at the event, Ms Long said:

“We have seen several nights of rioting and disorder in the last week with officers sustaining more than 60 injuries in the line of duty. There is absolutely no justification for such attacks, and they must be unequivocally condemned.”

Highlighting the daily risks faced by police officers and staff, the Minister added:

“Police officers demonstrate extraordinary courage daily, setting aside their own safety as they keep the rest of us safe. 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.”

In response to the rising number of assaults, Ms Long reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening legal protections for emergency workers through new legislation to be included in the forthcoming Sentencing Bill.

“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,” she confirmed.

The Justice Minister stressed the wider impact of these assaults, noting how they can directly affect response times and public safety.

“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.”

Ms Long concluded by offering her full support to the Police Federation’s campaign and appealed to the wider public to do the same.

“I fully support this campaign to stop assaults on police officers and I am urging the public to do the same.”

The Police Federation campaign comes amid growing concerns about the welfare and protection of police officers, with recent incidents highlighting the physical and emotional toll faced by those in uniform.

The proposed legislative changes are expected to form part of wider reforms aimed at supporting public service workers across Northern Ireland.