EVERYONE will be sickened by the horrific attack on Basingstoke police officer Kerry Lawrence.

While on duty, she had her head smashed against the ground by a man she had handcuffed for being drunk and disorderly.

Sergeant Lawrence was just trying to do her job, and the footage captured on her body-worn camera shows that she remained calm and professional before Craig Radbourne violently attacked her.

Published on The Gazette’s website, it’s shocking, and quite disturbing to watch, and has received national attention.

But Sgt Lawrence is incredibly brave in allowing it to be released, as it acts as a constant reminder of her ordeal, representing the potential dangers police face, just by carrying out their jobs.

What a shame then that some people, rather than credit Sgt Lawrence for her bravery, and sympathising with the trauma she has suffered, have instead looked to find fault in her actions.

Some people, hidden behind the protection of their computers, chose to judge or criticise others.

They have no idea of the circumstances leading up to the attack or the specialist training police apply in their work.

Sgt Lawrence acted on instinct, using her common sense and skills to make decisions she thought were best.

It’s disappointing that, when faced with footage showing a man violently attacking an officer in their line of duty, some people look for fault with the victim.

Hasn’t Sgt Lawrence suffered enough?

I’m sure she will have played over in her head the terrifying attack, and perhaps questioned whether she could have done anything differently.

But the responsibility lies solely in the hands of the offender, not the innocent victim, whose actions should not be put into question.

At the sentencing of Radbourne it was not surprising to hear that Sgt Lawrence lost her confidence following the attack last July and had difficulty sleeping.

Yet she has returned to work, despite this significant impact on her life.

What a shame that some people can’t focus on the incredible courage it must have taken for her to go back out on the streets, risking her life to protect us all.

We hope that Gazette readers will recognise and respect her bravery, and that she finds some comfort in knowing that the person responsible for her attack is now facing three years in prison.

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