Police officers in Dorset have been attacked dozens of times during the coronavirus pandemic, figures reveal.

The number of assaults across England and Wales has been described as "disgusting" by the Police Federation, which says many offences involved spitting and coughing during a time of fear over the spread of Covid-19.

Home Office data shows 62 attacks on police officers were recorded by Dorset Police between April 2020 and March 2021.

That was a fall from the 117 reported the previous year.

Of the attacks in 2020-21, 52 resulted in an injury to the officer, compared to 87 the previous year, while in 10 cases the officer escaped physically unhurt.

Chief Constable at Dorset Police James Vaughan said: “Our officers and staff demonstrate commitment, courage and dedication on a daily basis. They signed up to help protect the public, not to come into work each day with the risk of being assaulted, attacked or verbally abused.

“The impact such assaults can have on our officers and staff, their colleagues and their families can have serious consequences and we will do all we can to bring criminal proceedings against those responsible.”

The Dorset figures contrast with a jump in such attacks across England and Wales, where recorded assaults on officers increased 14% during the pandemic period, to around 37,000.

They included 11,200 which left officers injured.

The creation of “assault with injury on a constable” as a new category of crime five years ago has meant more assaults on officers are now recorded.

However, the Home Office said the figures are still likely to be an underestimate because the categories showing an attack on an officer do not include more serious offences such as attempted murder.

John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation for England and Wales, said the data showed the "disgusting level of violence" faced by officers working throughout the pandemic.

He said: "More than 100 of my colleagues are assaulted every single day – that’s a staggering number and something society must not accept.

"Many of these recorded attacks involve vile individuals who have spat on or coughed at police officers, weaponising the virus and threatening to spread it to them and their families."

Under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill, the maximum prison sentence for common assault on an emergency worker, including a police officer, is 12 months.

Mr Apter added: "This unjustified violence is a stain on society and needs to be dealt with robustly.”

The figures released by the Home Office also show in Dorset there were no attacks recorded on emergency workers, other than police officers, which resulted in injury during 2020-21.

Across England and Wales, that number was 2,282.

The Home Office said it had provided funding to police forces in England and Wales for more than 7,000 Taser devices to help protect officers.

A spokesperson added: "Our brave police officers go to work every day to protect the public and being attacked should never be part of the job.

“Anyone who commits these despicable assaults should expect to face the full force of the law."

A Dorset organisation has raised concern about the rise of assaults on rank and file officers - with offenders using coronavirus as a weapon.

Dorset Police Federation (DPF) has said there were 36,969 assaults on police officers in England and Wales last year, which is a 20 per cent annual national rise.

Figures from the organisation, which represents rank and file officers within Dorset Police, said it works out as 720 assaults a week - 101 assaults on police officers every day - with more than four assaults every hour.

James Dimmack, chair of DPF, said: "It's deeply concerning that assaults on police officers continue to rise.

“Offenders have utilised Covid-19 and used it a weapon against officers. Prolonged periods of social imprisonment have left people angry and unable to interact with each other. This has manifested itself evidently on assaults against Police."

A total of 11,235 police officers were injured when the public assaulted them over the past year; 30 injuries to police officers every single day of the year.

Mr Dimmack added: "This only goes to highlight the increasingly dangerous and challenging times in which the police have to maintain order. Officers are the ones running towards danger - be it physical violence or the masked spectre of an indiscriminate virus.

“Officers need to be protected. This needs to be in terms of the best quality equipment, support and welfare. Officers are battling these challenges whilst being required to work repeated extended shifts and cancelled days off."