A man was arrested after he spat in a police officer's face.

He also spat at one of her colleagues and kneed another officer in the genitals as they fought to contain him.

One tweeted afterwards: 'Due to male being Hep C, one officer now in A&E being assessed.'

The assault on Loke Road, near the centre of King's Lynn, happened around 2pm today.

It is the latest incident in a rising tide of violence against officers.

Norfolk's police and crime commissioner Lorne Green and the county's chief constable Simon Bailey are leading calls for tougher sentences for those who assault officers.

'Nobody gets paid to work in the morning to be assaulted,' he said. 'No-one wants officers sitting in A&E, we want them on the front line keeping us safe.'

A private members bill to increase sentences goes before MPs next month.

'That bill would increase sentences from the current six months to 12 months for anyone assaulting an emergency worker,' said Mr Green. 'I think it should be five years - it's abhorrent.'