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Nearly 200 North Wales Police officers injured on duty last year

NEARLY 200 police officers in North Wales were injured in the line of duty last year.

A total of 142 male officers and 50 females were hurt, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

The causes of officers’ injuries included being hit by a vehicle, slipping over, being injured by an animal or physically assaulted.

The number of injuries sustained by officers, however, has fallen notably.

During 2008 there were 276 reported injuries followed by 260 a year later and 248 in 2010. Each year male officers sustain the majority of injuries.

North Wales Police Federation secretary Richard Eccles says the availability of stun guns for officers over that period could be a factor behind the decrease.

Last year, a total of 51 officers were assaulted – the most common form of injury – with 10 incidents in March.

However, that number was a significant reduction on the amount of assaults in the previous year of 93.

Flying or falling objects and moving vehicles caused 13 injuries last year, while 26 officers hurt themselves by slipping or tripping.

Five were injured by an animal while the same number were hurt after being exposed to or in contact with a harmful substance.

When officers are injured, depending on the severity and nature of it, they can receive support such as a welfare visit, physio and counselling.

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