A POLICE chief has promised people who attack officers in their line of duty will feel the full force of the law.

Chief Insp Simon Anslow, district commander for Southend, has spoke out after it was revealed more and more people are assaulting members of his team as they try to go about their daily business.

From May 2015, there were 73 assaults against police officers recorded in Southend, 52 of which resulted in charges and ten suspects were handed a caution.

From 2014 to 2015, 71 assaults were recorded, 11 of which directly related to the night-time economy. Nine officers were assaulted at the town's hospital and five in Warrior Square.

Mr Anslow said that the 71 assaults were all committed by different people against a total of 59 officers.

Over the last year, one officer was attacked four times, another officer was hit three times and ten officers had been assaulted twice.

During the last week, two people have been charged with the offence.

Andrew Garcia, 24, of Stanley Road, Southend, was charged with the assaulting PC Grace Pratt as well as causing fear, alarm or distress against a public order act after police were called to an disturbance in Queensway at 12.50am on April 27. He will next appear in court on May 27.

Duran Omar, 18, of Central Avenue, Southend, was also charged with assaulting a police officer on Sunday, May 1 at 2.40pm and will next appear in court on May 31.

Mr Anslow said that although officers put themselves in risky situations to keep people safe, they did not deserve to be assaulted - and it would not be tolerated.

He said: "Policing is a demanding profession.

"People expect the highest standards of professionalism in relation to knowledge, customer service, fairness and tolerance and it's right and proper that we have those expectations.

"However people need to understand that policing isn't easy.

"It is inherently risky and as a public we ask our officers to do things we can't or wouldn't do to keep people safe.

"We have some protective equipment and some training but we are flesh and blood like everyone else and nobody deserves to go to work at risk of being assaulted regardless of their profession."

Mr Anslow warned that officers are now able to use evidence from body-worn cameras and CCTV footage to prosecute an attacker.

He said: "People who have assaulted us have been brought to justice and the evidence of their conduct is becoming more compelling as we now have body worn video cameras, which came in last year.

"These cameras can capture events much more accurately.

"The warning I would give is that if you do do this to an officer, you are going to get caught.

"There is going to be evidence against you, which you cannot hide from."

Anyone with any information about assaults on police officers can call the Southend community policing team on 101.

Alternatively they can call crime-fighting Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or by visiting https://crimestoppers-uk.org.