HAMPSHIRE police officers were subjected to 17 assaults over the weekend.

The officers suffered head butting, punching, kicking and being spat at.

It follows the news that seven officers were assaulted over a weekend last month.

John Apter, the chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, said that officers don’t have confidence in the judicial system.

Mr Apter said: “These are all different incidents from across the force area and thankfully none are too serious, but it shouldn’t be the case where officers have to face this.

“I don’t think officers have faith in the judicial system, just because of the guidelines that have to be followed. They need confidence that assaults on officers are going to be dealt with seriously.”

According to the chairman, the number is unusually high for a two-day period, particularly with no major organised events.

“Seventeen is a high number for one weekend, but on one hand I am pleased that they feel that they can report these incidents," he said.

"It shouldn’t be the case where officers have to face this, we need to give them the support they need.

“There used to be the feeling that being assaulted was just part of the job, but offenders need to be dealt with properly. I want the public to see the reality of policing and what our officers go out to face every day.”

Since April 2016, more than 125 assaults involving spitting have been recorded by Hampshire officers.