Police leaders have condemned the growing number of assaults against officers and blasted those who film these incidents to share on social media.

In 2018-19, Dyfed-Powys Police and South Wales Police experienced the biggest year-on-year rise in assaults, with and without injury, of Wales’s four forces compared to the previous year.

The dangers of work were brutally brought home in court last week when jurors heard how a policeman in Ceredigion was shot with his own Taser and sprayed with his own CS spray by two assailants.

Swansea Crown Court heard how one of the assailants shouted to his accomplice to “grab his baton and cave his head in” before the duo made off in a tractor and then a 4X4 and a car.

PC Dafydd Edwards suffered a torn cruciate ligament in his left knee, which was then stamped on during the incident in February.

The court heard that the constable had a prolonged period off work and that his career remained in the balance.

While such grave incidents are rare, five Dyfed-Powys officers are assaulted per week on average.

Chief Constable Mark Collins said: “We need to stop this.”

He said assaults had risen by 50 per cent over the last two years – two-thirds of which were punching and kicking, and a third spitting.

The force covers four large rural counties and frontline staff numbers have been impacted by budget cuts since 2010.

“In the main we have single-crewed officers in cars,” said Mr Collins.

“We have got a number of officers who are trained in the use of tasers.”

Mr Collins said research had shown that officers patrolling in pairs were more likely to be assaulted.

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