A GUN was fired at a police car during a Christmas Day disturbance in Bradford city centre - prompting calls for more protection for officers.

West Yorkshire Police said the firearm - which a member of the public claimed was a shotgun - was “discharged into a marked police vehicle” in Sackville Street while officers were speaking to an assault victim.

A spokesman for the force said the gun was fired at 4.43am on Christmas Day, damaging the vehicle’s windscreen.

Nick Smart, chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Federation, said the officers were not in the vehicle.

But he said it was fortunate no officers were killed - almost 13 years to the day since PC Ian Broadhurst was shot dead in Leeds, on Boxing Day 2003.

Mr Smart added: “It is deeply worrying that someone would do this. More and more officers are becoming a target for certain people.

“It is a massive concern. Officers’ safety is something the Federation is passionate about. We are trying to bring in new legislation for tougher sentences on people who attack officers and other emergency services workers.

“We feel officers are being routinely targeted. We are becoming society’s punchbags.

“It is worrying that people are willing to act in this way.”

Mr Smart continued: “It is worrying that people are willing to act in this way, particularly for West Yorkshire Police at this time of year with what happened to Ian Broadhurst 13 years ago.

“It is a stark reminder, thinking about Ian Broadhurst and the sacrifice he made.

“It is not beyond the realms of possibility that we could have had something similar.

“We need to try to protect our officers as much as we can.”

Officers had arrived at the scene at about 4.10am to deal with the report of an assault which had left one person injured. A man, 19, was arrested on suspicion of assault, but police could not say if the gunman had been arrested or not.

Meanwhile, police are investigating another shooting incident, which happened in Shipley on Christmas Eve.

A police spokesman said: “It happened at 4am in the Market Square area of Shipley.

“It is thought that a vehicle and a pedestrian were in collision. The incident wasn’t reported to police until 6.52pm when officers were alerted to an injured man who had injuries consistent with having been in a road traffic collision. It is also believed he had been shot, although not seriously injured.”

West Yorkshire Police also dealt with another gun-related incident on Christmas Eve, when a car was damaged by a gunshot at 3.10pm in Huddersfield.

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Foster said there would be a weapons amnesty in the new year, and added: “We are very concerned about this recent increase in firearms-related incidents and are appealing directly to the community to help us bring those people responsible to justice.

“It is also important that anyone with any information, no matter how big or small, about any firearms-related incident comes forward with it.

Witnesses should contact police on 101.