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Belfast Telegraph: "8 attacks each day on Police" 3rd August 2007

Eight police officers are attacked in Northern Ireland every day. Shock new statistics show 2,928 incidents recorded by the PSNI - a rise of up to 33% in just four years.

The attacks range from verbal assaults serious enough to be classed as a criminal offence to physical violence.

Seven of the incidents involved a knife.

The figures were released in Parliament after a question from the MP for Foyle, SDLP leader Mark Durkan.

Northern Ireland minister Paul Goggins insisted action was being taken to cut the spiralling figures.

He said: "The safety of police officers is a primary consideration for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

"Measures to protect police officers from assault form part of the ongoing development of equipment and tactics undertaken by the PSNI in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers and Home Office.

"Operational officers receive personal safety training on a regular basis, the content of which reflects their role and this training is reviewed in line with both local and national trends," he added.

"Recent developments include training in the skills required for single officer patrolling.

"Officer personal safety training includes tactics in the early resolution of conflict through effective verbal communication, the use of unarmed skills, batons, incapacitant spray and handcuffs, all of which assist in improving officers safety when policing violent or potentially violent situations."

The figures do not include incidents where suspects have resisted arrest but cover all attacks on officers, whether they are on or off duty.

A spokeswoman for the PSNI said: "It is hard to define the cause of attacks on police, as there does not appear to be any particular trend or focused area. Statistics include officers who may have been assaulted whilst off duty and who record their occupation as police officers.

"Officers are issued with dual-purpose body armour, commonly referred to as stab vests.

"A training package, designed to protect officers from an attacker in possession of an edged weapon, is being delivered to operational officers throughout the organisation."