A POLICE officer injured in the line of duty had her handbag stolen while she was undergoing emergency surgery.

PC Amanda Smith, 39, suffered numerous injuries after being called to a disturbance in Cefn Fforest, Blackwood, on August 12, where she and another officer were allegedly assaulted.

Two men, aged 41 and 18, from the Blackwood area, were arrested on suspicion of assault and are currently on bail.

After weeks of pain, she went to Neville Hall hospital, Abergavenny, where it was discovered that her urethra was damaged, although it is not yet clear if this injury was sustained in the assault She was transferred to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport and booked in for an emergency operation at 10.55am on October 9.

She said: “Just before the operation, I said to the lady who was taking me to theatre that I was not happy about leaving my bag in the locker next to the bed, but she said it would be fine.

“At about 2.30pm, I returned from surgery and I asked my friend to get my bag, and that’s when we realised it had disappeared.”

PC Smith’s bag contained her warrant card, her purse, which had just £16 in it, perfume, her driving licence, paperwork and toiletries.

The mother-of-five said: “My bag had everything in it, and it’s going to cost close to a grand to replace it all. Who can afford that in the run-up to Christmas?

"I love this job, I’ve been doing it for 15 years, but they had to put me on anti-depressants after the assault. I don’t knowwhat else can go wrong."

A Royal Gwent spokesman said: “Our security department did visit the patient and took a report.

They then conducted a thorough search of the ward area and adjoining corridors and have now reported back to the patient.

“We are extremely sorry that this theft has taken place and will continue to keep the patient informed about our efforts to locate the bag.”

Anyone with information on the theft, or who saw anything suspicious, should call 101.