Our policemen and women are there to protect the community and to bring people to justice when they commit a crime. Whether you like them or not, they provide a vital service to our society.
If you've been served a speeding fine or booked for not having insurance, sure, you'll be angry, but at the end of the day, you're the one in the wrong. While you might dish out a few choice words, most of us crack on with out day through gritted teeth and pay the penalty.
Well, one motorcyclist in Bootle, Liverpool, clearly wasn't happy after a cop discovered the bike was being used without a valid MOT or road tax.
The rider took their anger out on the officer, wrestled him to the ground and started belting him - at 11am in full view of pedestrians and other drivers on Gorsey Lane.
Thankfully, passers-by came to the police officer's aid and quickly ended the brawl.
A statement from Merseyside Police reads: "The man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and other motoring offences. He was taken to a police station and has been released pending further enquiries."
Acting Chief Inspector Keith Kellett, from the Roads Policing Unit adds: "Thankfully the officer was able to remain on duty and suffered only minor injuries, and we'd like to thank the members of the public and other officers who came to his assistance.
"This officer was simply trying to do his job and I'm sure the public would agree that officers who are keeping our roads safe, should not be subject to behaviour like this."
While no charges have yet been laid, assaulting a police officer is a very serious matter and is considered by the courts to be more egregious than common assault.
In England and Wales, the Police Act of 1996 says: "Any person who assaults a constable in the execution of his duty, or a person assisting a constable in the execution of his duty, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both."
Even if the defendant doesn't know that the person they're assaulting is a police officer, they can still get charged with the offence. But the kicker is that the cop has to be performing their duties at the time, otherwise it just counts as common assault.
Featured Image Credit: Liverpool EchoTopics: Attack, Liverpool, Police, UK News, News, Assault, UK