ATTACKS on television licence enforcement officers have doubled in the last year, according to new research.

More than 80 TV Licensing enquiry officers were victims of physical assaults by members of the public.

This is up from 37 in the previous year and included attacked which left officers in hospital.

TV Licensing bosses are now launching a campaign to tackle the increasing problem of verbal and physical attacks on officers who visit unlicensed properties.

In total, 360 enquiry officers faced physical and verbal assaults in the last financial year, including attacks in Glasgow.

Many officers have had death threats made to them after knocking on doors, while others have been punched and spat at, had TVs thrown at them,

One enquiry officer from Glasgow said: "It's getting increasingly more difficult, and because of social and national media, we are experiencing more verbal and physical abuse.

"Just a couple of days ago, an occupier stepped out the door and gestured to punch me and gave me a mouthful of verbal abuse.

"People are getting more evasive and angry at our presence."

"It's getting worse, and in some cases, endangering and affecting Enquiry Officers in their private lives"

The campaign is part of Anti-Bullying Month and is being supported by Police Scotland, the Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) and the Scottish Taxi Federation.

Colin Jones, TV Licensing Field Operations Director, said, "The threats our officers can receive when they are just trying to carry out their role is completely unacceptable.

"Those who attack them seem to forget they are human beings.

"They do a great job, remaining professional and courteous in sometimes very challenging circumstances.

"We do everything we can to support them. This includes reporting serious threats and abuse to the police."

In other cases in Scotland, one officer had a hammer waved at their head.

Another was filmed, pushed and followed on foot for several hundred yards down a busy street with abuse shouted at them.

Superintendent Brian Hughes, from Police Scotland's Licensing and Violence Reduction Division, said: "We support and endorse this campaign. "Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe and everybody should be able to do their job safely and without fear of violence."