Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson Robert Brown MSP has revealed that there was a 10% increase in the number of police officers assaulted between 2007/08 and 2008/09 in Scotland.

Figures released in an answer to a Parliamentary Question also revealed that as many as 6 police officers a day are assaulted on the streets of Glasgow.

Commenting, Mr Brown said:

“These assault figures are wholly intolerable. There are no circumstances where it is acceptable to assault a public officer.

“Police officers in Scotland do a fantastic job of protecting the public from crime and assaults against them while on duty are unacceptable.

“The public will support the courts in taking strong action against people who assault police officers.

“However, police assault is part of the wider issue of crimes of violence which are often fuelled by alcohol and by binge drinking. There must be stronger enforcement of alcohol laws on the streets of Scotland, particularly on selling alcohol to people who already drunk and minors under 18.

“We must tackle the root causes of crime if we are ever to stop assaults like these happening.