They released a statement this morning saying: “During the early hours of Sunday morning (14 June) paint was thrown over a statue in Queen St, and whilst the two men responsible were being arrested for malicious damage, they assaulted the arresting police officer.

“He was hit over the head several times with a foam scaffolding sleeve by one man, whilst the other punched the officer in the face.”

They added: “The officer involved sustained minor injuries and his glasses were broken during the assault.” Two men have been arrested and charged with malicious damage and assault on Police.

Harry Rawnsley-Gurd and Adam Bellamy – both 20 – will appear in the Magistrate’s Court this morning.

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Pictured: Two 20-year-olds are due to appear in the Magistrate’s Court this morning.

The statement came after a video of an apparent attack on a Police officer outside the Red Cross charity shop on Queen Street was circulated widely on Twitter and Facebook last night.

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Pictured top: A screenshot from the video circulated on social media.