A POLICE officer is injured on Bolton’s streets every 56 hours — more often than anywhere else in Greater Manchester — according to new figures obtained by The Bolton News.

Our investigation into attacks on police has revealed that 155 officers suffered injuries while on duty in the town last year compared with 123 two years earlier.

Greater Manchester Police Commissioner Tony Lloyd backed The Bolton News for revealing the figures in the light of the deaths of PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes, who were killed in Tameside last year.

“After September’s tragic events, these figures are yet another example of the dangers our brave officers face each day as they go out on the front line to fight crime and keep people safe,” said Mr Lloyd, who was an MP for 15 years before he became the county’s crime commissioner in November.

He added: “It is admirable that The Bolton News has asked for this information and is printing it to raise awareness of the obstacles police face while out on the beat and while responding to incidents.”

In the latest figures, which cover the start of October, 2011 to the end of September, 2012, incidents of violence towards police in Bolton include a thug attacking one officer with a kitchen knife and others being attacked by yobs hurling bricks and fireworks.

The 155 incidents compare with 147 in north Manchester, 115 in Salford, 114 in south Manchester, 109 in Wigan, 101 in Stockport, 93 in Oldham, 92 in Bury, 83 in Rochdale, 83 in central Manchester, 71 in Tameside and 60 in Trafford.

Supt Phil Davies, of Bolton Police, said: “Police staff in Bolton attend the vast majority of calls for service without incident or injury to themselves or others.

“We patrol in all weathers, at all times of the day and night, and on occasion have to deal with violent people and volatile situations.

“We are, on occasion, exposed to hazardous environments while conducting searches.

“As part of our ongoing training programme we endure physical exertion and simulated disorder.

“This is an active job and we have stringent processes for health and safety.”

The Bolton News obtained the information using freedom of information legislation.

August last year was the most dangerous month to be an officer in Bolton, when 24 officers were injured.

In one incident, an officer was taking an arrested man to the custody desk at a police station when the man became violent.

He punched a custody detention officer in the face and bit a PC on the right forearm.

In the same month, a man bit an officer while he was being detained in a police van.

A man who had just committed an assault bit an officer on the wrist as he was being arrested. The same man then bit a second officer.

In other incidents, officers were headbutted, kicked, punched and spat at.

And more serious still, there were two incidents in which police cars responding to 999 calls were involved in crashes with other vehicles, causing the driver to suffer neck strains.

One officer was stung by wasps, another suffered a reaction to an insect bite and another suffered a puncture wound when he put a hand in a suspect’s pocket and found a needle.

Seven of the injuries were accidentally self inflicted or happened during training exercises.

In one incident, an officer turned to face his colleague while training and they clashed faces, causing him to suffer a fractured cheekbone, and in another an officer moving debris fell on an officer, causing both of them to suffer bruising.