One of Kent's most senior police officers has spoken of the "serious risks" facing frontline staff after 11 bobbies were attacked in just three days.

In one incident an officer was taken to hospital after suffering a head injury trying to restrain a suspect.

Deputy chief constable Tony Blaker said: "Unfortunately, it is a daily occurrence that our officers are punched, kicked, and spat at by offenders when they are dealing with them.

"In the last weekend we had an officer who had to go to hospital after having his head hit on a door frame restraining a suspect.

"A week or two back we had an officer who was run over by a driver in a stolen car, with a broken leg trying to put out a device to stop the car.

"Police officers face serious risks every day they go to work in Kent."

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Mr Blaker says the influence of drink and drunks and people suffering with mental health problems are often involved in clashes with police.

"We're very concerned about the rise in violence - the rise in county-line gangs operating from places like London into Kent and we're very concerned about the carrying of weapons," he said.

"That's why we've been delivering a large amount of warrants, and arrests and stop and searches in the last few months to tackle that issue but it is a growing problem."

His comments comes as figures show 435 people have been charged the Assaults on Emergency Workers Act since it came into force in November.

Eleven police officers were also assaulted in Kent last weekend responding to calls for help from the public.

Deputy chief con Blaker said the force is planning to quadruple the number of officers carrying tasers to help fight rising levels of violent crime.

"We will have an additional thousand officers in the next year or so who that will train with that device to protect themselves and the public more effectively," he told KentOnline.

"The chief constable has made funding available for every officer who requires a taser device to have one.

"We expected we will have around 1,500 taser-trained officers on patrol when we've rolled that out and we believe it should be available if officers need one to do their job.

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"Every frontline officer that goes out and deals with emergencies will be provided with a taser device if they want one."

Deputy chief con Tony Blaker admitted some officers had left the force as a result of the violence and abuse they are facing, but insisted everything was being done can to give them support.

"Thankfully most officers, because they are well-trained and are well-equipped, can deal with violent people can arrest them without suffering serious injuries," he said.

"We do get officers that are seriously hurt and we've put a huge amount of work into supporting our officers.

"We have occupational health services and counselling services, physiotherapy, which can look after them and get them back to work.

"We take it very seriously and take a zero tolerance approach to those people that assault our staff."

Shocking bodycam footage was earlier released showing the terrifying moment a police officer was nearly stabbed.

Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott earlier branded criminals who assault police "evil".

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