READERS have reacted strongly to the news that a female police officers suffered a split lip after being attacked during her first night shift in Worcester.

We reported how the young officer was kicked in the face following an early morning disorder in the city - but, according to colleagues, later returned to work “in good spirits.”

Her injury follows a series of high profile attacks on police officers, including one on PC Gareth Phillips, aged 42, from West Midlands Police, who is seriously injured in hospital after being run over by a hijacked police car in Birmingham.

PC Phillips was attempting to arrest a suspect at the time in Moseley.

Nationally, there has also been a wave of public support for the family of PC Andrew Harper, who was killed while investigating a burglary in Berkshire last week.

He died after being dragged underneath a car.

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Readers have posted concerned comments about the hurt Worcester officer on the Worcester News Facebook page.

Ben Rendle said: “Not a good start, but unfortunately the way things are at the moment, we really need to come down hard on these people.

“Respect to her for carrying on though, we need more police officers like this.”

Ian Habbitts said: “Our police need to use more force nowadays.

“Truncheons, and guns should be deployed.

“Crime is out of control in our country. That person should have been flogged then put in public stocks for 24 hours, for doing that to an officer of the law.”

Marco Carola said: “Awful start but unfortunately it comes with the job. Hope the PC is alright.”

West Midlands Police released a picture of PC Phillips with his 13-year-old chocolate Labrador, Diesel, who was allowed to visit him in hospital to lift his spirits.

Supt Dave Twyford, head of Central Motorway Police Group, said: “Having spoken to his family and his wife, knowing that people are supporting them locally and across the globe, it makes a huge difference to Gaz and his family.”