Metropolitan Police officers have a duty to facilitate peaceful protest without fear or favour - and to act when people break the law. It's a constant level of relentless demand officers have risen to over past months.
Our colleagues do not go to work to be assaulted - we are not the public's punchbags - and we are disgusted to hear that colleagues have today been punched, kicked, spat at and have had objects thrown at them.
Paula Dodds, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: "This appalling level of abuse will not be tolerated and we expect the stiffest sanctions on the perpetrators. We are supporting officers as best we can and wish those injured a swift recovery.
"We must remember there are no "extra" police officers to police these weekly and seemingly escalating number of protests. Just the same hard-working ones having their days off cancelled, having to work longer shifts and being moved from other areas.
"Our colleagues are emotionally and physically exhausted. And it's not sustainable."
