AN OUTRAGED police official reacted angrily today after three officers were allegedly beaten up by a teenager in a fast food restaurant.Police were called to a Burger King restaurant following reports of a disturbance.

AN OUTRAGED police official reacted angrily today after three officers were allegedly beaten up by a teenager in a fast food restaurant.

Police were called to a Burger King restaurant following reports of a disturbance. But while dealing with the incident, three officers were assaulted – leaving one needing hospital treatment.

The attack, in the Buttermarket, Bury St Edmunds, at 9.25pm on Tuesday , came just days after another policeman was punched and kicked by up to 20 people outside a Brandon pub .

In this latest incident, a 41-year-old policeman received serious bruising to his face and was taken to West Suffolk Hospital. He has since been signed off work sick.

A female police officer, aged in her 20s, also received minor facial injuries, and another male officer received grazes and bruises to his knees.

Phil Smith, general secretary of the Suffolk Police Federation, said: "We are appalled to learn about the vicious and unprovoked attack on three of our colleagues in Bury St Edmunds. Police officers around the country put on a uniform to serve the community, not to serve as a punch bag for mindless thugs.

"I would urge those that come to preside over this case to seize this opportunity and show thugs that they cannot simply choose to assault police officers and get away with it.

"I would expect a very harsh sentence to be handed down to the culprit in the fullness of time.

"I have asked for updated figures about assaults on police officers because the last research seems to have been done in 2000/2001 at the time when several new items of safety equipment were introduced."

However, Mr Smith said that in a national survey by the police federation about whether officers should be armed most Suffolk officers were happy with their twice-yearly safety training and equipment.

"It appears we have got it right in Suffolk. Personally I am happy with the training I have completed –it gives me enough of a tool to deal with most potentially violent situations."

A police spokesman today said: "A 16-year-old youth has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and two counts of assault with intent to resist arrest. He is due to appear at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates' Court today."

Two people have been arrested after a 38-year-old constable was attacked by a gang, as he tried to calm one man down at The Flintknappers in Brandon.

The officer, who has not been named, has returned to work after suffering cuts and bruises to his head and legs when he was set upon.

A 21-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, and released on police bail to return to Bury St Edmunds police station on November 7.

A 23-year-old man from Brandon was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and criminal damage. He was released on police bail to return to Mildenhall Police Station on November 29.

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