SENIOR officers have condemned assaults on seven police colleagues in Cleveland yesterday.

The seven officers were assaulted in four separate incidents where police were called to attend to reports from members of the public. 

Chief Superintendent Thom Mcloughlin said: “Assaulting our officers is unacceptable and it will not be tolerated. Police put their lives on the line for others every day and they do not deserve to come to work to be kicked, bitten and assaulted in any other way.

"The officers have received support from the force and anyone who commits an offence of this nature will be dealt with appropriately and we will make full use of the available legislation.”

In the first incident, officers attended Carrol Street in Stockton at around 3:30pm to a report of concern for a woman who was intoxicated.

The woman was located jumping on a car and when officers approached her she became violent towards them, kicking two officers in the street and then assaulting a third in police custody whilst resisting arrest.

The 33-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in a public place, three counts of assault of an emergency worker, obstructing or resisting a constable in the execution of duty and attempted criminal damage to property.

Another two officers were bitten after attending a report of an altercation in the street on Hartington Road, Stockton, at around 5:05pm.

A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault on an emergency worker and affray.

Officers attended a report of an altercation on Milton Street in Saltburn at around 7:10pm whereby a 17-year-old woman assaulted a police officer and was arrested on suspicion of ABH, criminal damage and assault on an emergency worker.

In a further incident, officers attended a report of a fight involving a number of males on Passfield Crescent in Middlesbrough at around 11:15pm.

One man allegedly tried to head butt an officer. A 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a weapon in a public place, criminal damage and assault on an emergency worker.

All seven remain in police custody at this time.