Grantham MP Gareth Davies has today called on parliament to stage a debate on improving the safety of police officers.

His move follows a hit-and-run assault of a Lincolnshire Police officer as she carried out her duties in the car park of Sainsbury's on London Road yesterday.

As previously reported by Nub News, Daniel Noddings, 36, has appeared before Lincolnshire Magistrates Court today, pleading guilty to three related charges and was remanded in custody.

The MP told the House of Commons: "Yesterday morning, in Grantham in my constituency, a Lincolnshire police officer was struck and injured by a vehicle driven by a suspect whom she was seeking to apprehend.

"Will the Leader of the House join me in sending our best wishes to the injured police officer? Will he agree to a debate on how we can best keep our police officers safe in the line of duty?"

The leader of the House, Jacob Rees-Mogg replied: "Yes, of course, I will send my best wishes. I think the whole House would also wish to send their best wishes to the police officer who has been injured."

Mr Rees-Mogg continued: "Attacks on the police are always very worrying, and we should be so grateful to our brave police who stand on duty courageously, never knowing quite what might hit them.

"My hon. Friend is right to be asking for a debate on this. Obviously, there will be opportunities as legislation comes forward to debate it in Government time.

"None the less, the Backbench Business Committee is the main source for debates of this kind along with Adjournment debates, but, as he knows, this is an issue that the Government take very seriously."

Grantham district and county councillor Ray Wootten, a former police officer, agreed with the MP, and demanded tougher sentences for attacks against police and other emergency services, saying he was 'shocked' by the assault.

He told Nub News: "Any assault on any police officer or any emergency worker should be seen as serious by the judiciary and result in a lengthy custodial sentence.

"We must protect those who protect us."