NINE Hampshire police officers were assaulted during the Bank Holiday weekend.

There were eight separate assaults and one officer was hospitalised with concussion as a result of an attack according to the Chairman of Hampshire Police Federation John Apter.

Mr Apter said that officers which have been assaulted should be treated as victims of crime and he wants to stamp out any perception that the attacks are 'part of the job'.

John Apter, said: “Policing is a tremendously difficult job. When colleagues are assaulted it's important and essential that they get the right support, not only from the federation but also from the force and the judicial system as a whole.

“They put themselves in the line of danger to protect the public and they deserve the best support.”

The exact details of the assaults have not been revealed.

Mr Apter will be addressing the issue of police officer assaults on stage at the Police Federation of England and Wales conference which will be held at Bournemouth International Centre from May 19 to 21.

It comes after the Daily Echo reported how Hampshire Police Federation released a photograph of a bloodied police vest after a police officer was headbutted causing him an injury that has left the unnamed officer with a permanent scar in March.