A POLICE chief has praised his officers for remaining professional at all times after they were attacked in two separate incidents just a fortnight apart.

Emergency response officers were called to a disturbance in a block of flats in Long Road, Canvey, at about 5am on Saturday.

When they arrived the officers told how they were confronted by a man wielding a kitchen knife.

PC Mike Peterson told how he was assaulted and left with minor injuries.

A man was later arrested in connection with the incident.

It comes less than a fortnight after Matthew Finch, 25, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a group of police officers after they were called to a domestic incident at a house in Point Road, Canvey.

Mr Finch was accused of hitting his 63-year-old dad before officers arrived on Wednesday, February 15.

When police turned up to safeguard the family, the 25-year-old - who lives in the house - lashed out.

It is understood that one officer was grabbed around the throat and punched while others were kicked and spat at.

Chief Insp Glen Westley, district commander for Castle Point and Rochford, said: “I am very proud of my officers and the way that they have dealt with these two incidents involving violence.

“In these cases, we are not just responding to people in the street.

“People are calling us and asking us for our help.

“My officers have sustained different levels of injury and have been threatened with weapons but they have remained professional throughout.”

Mr Finch admitted five counts of assaulting a police officer in the execution of their duty at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Because he had a clean criminal record and showed remorse, magistrates handed him a conditional discharge for 24 months and ordered him to pay £100 compensation.

*Christopher Ball, 34, of Long Road, Canvey, was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, affray, possession of an offensive weapon and making threats to kill in relation to the Long Road incident. He appeared before magistrates on Monday and was remanded in custody for a trial at Basildon Crown Court on March 27.