A police constable was bitten by a man he had stopped for driving dangerously and had some of the skin of his hand ripped off, the police said yesterday.

The incident took place on Saturday at around 7pm, when two policemen patrolling the Tigné seafront in Sliema spotted a man driving recklessly and overtaking a number of other vehicles.

The officers judged his driving to be dangerous and stopped him.

The driver, however, became increasingly aggressive and assistance was requested from the Sliema police station.

He was asked to take a breathalyser test but refused.

When a woman sergeant instructed him not to drive his car, he hurled insults and disparaging words at her and made threats involving her family, the police said.

He was placed under arrest and put inside a police car. But he made an attempt to open the door and get away, and while doing so kicked the driver and banged his own head against the car window.

He allegedly spat blood at three of the officers and then bit the constable, who was taken to Mater Dei Hospital.

In a statement, Acting Police Commissioner Ray Zammit said that acts of violence towards police carrying out their duties would not be tolerated.