A POLICE officer was pushed to the ground in Monmouth last weekend, and another was vomited on, in an act described as “completely unacceptable” by Gwent Police’s Chief Constable.

Chief Constable Jeff Farrar appealed last week for greater support from the public, following the two assaults, and others across the county.

The officer in Monmouth had responded to a disturbance at a public house in Monmouth just after 12am on Sunday 18th October. Whilst dealing with the situation, one officer was pushed to the floor and hit his head, and another was vomited on.

A 22 year old man from Monmouth was cautioned following the incident for being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

The officer who was pushed was taken to hospital for treatment and was later released.

Chief Constable Jeff Farrar said: “It was a busy weekend across the force, especially with many enjoying the big weekend of sport, however, please spare a thought for those who were policing the streets during the drunken aftermath. It’s one thing to drown your sorrows, but when that turns into assaulting police officers, or in another case vomiting on an officer, this is completely unacceptable.

“Two officers had to be taken to hospital, and whilst they appear to be OK and those responsible were dealt with, this shouldn’t be tolerated.

“Police officers have a difficult enough job and many of my staff comment on the unjustified barrage of criticism they feel they face when they are just trying to do their jobs. We should not forget that the police are rightly expected to step forward to protect the public when others step back, but police officers are human beings like everyone else and they shouldn’t have to expect this. I know we enjoy the support of the vast majority of the people in Gwent, and I think they would agree that this behaviour is

unacceptable.”