Former Met chief Ian Blair slams rise in attacks on police

Former Met Police chief Lord Ian Blair (pictured) said there needs to be a ‘public conversation’ about the violence officers faced in recent weeks

A former Met Police chief said there needs to be a ‘public conversation’ about the violence officers have faced in recent weeks.

Lord Ian Blair said it ‘cannot be right’ that officers have been injured both during illegal lockdown raves and in Black Lives Matter protests this month.  

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘It cannot be right that this level of injury to officers is seen as acceptable.’

He added: ‘This is not a normal situation where an occupation carries this sort of risk of injury every day.’ 

On Wednesday night in Brixton, 22 officers were injured  during clashes with a large crowd which Downing Street condemned as an ‘appalling’ scene and Home Secretary Patel dubbed ‘utterly vile’.

On Thursday, violence flared yet again as Metropolitan Police officers had objects thrown at them while attempting to disperse a crowd at an illegal music gathering near Notting Hill.

A massive block party in Maida Vale took place yesterday afternoon as riot police shields and truncheons dodged missiles thrown at them

Police formed a barricade and raised their shields as various missiles were thrown at them

A massive block party took place in West Kilburn yesterday afternoon before moving to Maida Vale where riot police with shields and truncheons battled hundreds of revellers who threw missiles at them.

Earlier this month, a police officer fell from her horse during a Black Lives Matter protest, leaving her with a broken collar bone, broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

She was flung violently into traffic lights outside Downing Street in central London after a protester hurled a bike and other missiles at her horse, causing the animal to bolt riderless back down Whitehall.  

Two men set about vandalising a police car after a party in Brixton erupted into violence on Wednesday night

Earlier this month, a police officer fell from her horse during a Black Lives Matter protest, leaving her with a broken collar bone, broken ribs and a collapsed lung 

Police speaking with revellers as illegal raves break out across the UK this week

He added: ‘That seen as the policewoman riding her horse and being smashed against the road sign because people were so angry is just not appropriate.

‘Obviously this is a matter for courts and sentencing but I also think it is actually a matter for public conversation. This should not be like this.’

Police chiefs this week warned that a ‘pressure cooker is building up’ which could erupt into an orgy of violence this summer as lockdown ends. 

Forces have begun cancelling leave and bolstering public order units in anticipation of widespread drunken disorder on so-called Super Saturday when lockdown is officially lifted on July 4.

Privately, many police chiefs are furious at Boris Johnson’s decision to lift restrictions on a Saturday because they fear it will lead to a ‘carnival’ atmosphere as pubs reopen and people can finally reunite with friends and families.

Revellers packed Maida Vale after a crowd marched from a party in West Kilburn yesterday

Police speaking with revellers wearing face masks as illegal raves break out across the UK