FOURTEEN people were arrested for assaults on police officers in North Yorkshire over the festive period, which a senior policeman has branded as “appalling”.

North Yorkshire Police said the 14 arrests took place between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, and 11 crimes were recorded.

The arrests were for assaulting a constable in the execution of their duty. Six of the crimes were for assaulting a constable occasioning actual bodily harm and five were for assaulting a constable without injury.

Temporary assistant chief constable Phil Cain said: “These figures are shocking and utterly unacceptable.

“It is extremely alarming that so many police officers are being assaulted when they are simply carrying out their duty to help keep the public safe from harm.

“Our officers, alongside other emergency service workers, were required to forego time at home with their families during the festive period and worked tirelessly to make sure the safety of the public remained paramount.

“I cannot express how disappointed I am that a number of our officers were assaulted. It truly is appalling. There is never an excuse for such behaviour and it should never be seen as ‘just part of the job’.”

Mr Cain praised the officers who were assaulted for carrying on with their duties over the festive period.