Egypt’s Prime Minister Hisham Kandil said on Tuesday that the government is considering a proposal of harsher penalties for crimes of assault on police officers while on duty.

“This proposal comes in order to put an end to crimes and assaults against police officers,” Kandil said during a meeting with top figures of the Interior Ministry.

The Prime Minister stressed that the proposed law grants police officers the rights to self defense.

He added that the police are facing many challenges, such as dealing with protesters in a peaceful manner while confronting outlaws who blend in with protests.

Kandil emphasized that the government fully supports the police in their efforts to achieve security for citizens, saying it appreciates the role of the police during this transitional phase.

He described the transitional phase the country is going through as difficult, saying it is a big burden on the police, who must deal with an infinite amount of unrest and riots.