This is the shocking moment a thug punches a police officer before ramming a squad car while fleeing the scene.

Footage captured by witnesses shows the officer chasing the offender around a red Skoda on a street in Bradford, only to be blindsided by a punch as he ran around the front of the vehicle.

The brave officer is then seen getting a baton out of his belt and the two engage in a stand-off for a few seconds before another melee begins, in which the thug, dressed in dark clothes and socks, loses one of his sandals.

A bystander wearing a green shirt then intervenes, standing between the officer and offender, only for the thug to dash into the Skoda.

Police are looking for a thug who punched an officer to the ground and then rammed a squad car while fleeing the scene in bradford

The incident was caught on camera and the police officer is seen chasing after the offender with a baton

They engaged in a stand-off in which the offender lost one of his sandals, pictured

But the offender was able to escape after a bystander in green, right, tried to intervene in the fight

After reversing into a parked car, the offender rammed the police vehicle and then drove off along a footpath.

In a second piece of footage showing the vehicle fleeing the scene, the clearly frustrated officer appears to remonstrate with the member of the public who got involved before inspecting the damage to his car.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed one of its officers was assaulted in Grantham Road, Bradford, and was taken to hospital for treatment for minor injuries.

Social media users reserved their harshest criticism for the bystander, who they blamed for letting the suspect get away.

Michaela Yvette Kelis asked: 'Why did that idiot interrupt?'

Brendan Paul Birkett said: 'Why did the guy step in? He had thrown the police officer on the floor, he deserved the baton to restrain him.'

Dawn Hay added: 'The guy who interfered should be arrested. He wouldn't have got away otherwise.'

The thug then reverses into a parked car in a red Skoda he had previously been driving before being stopped for a traffic matter

After turning around, he rammed into a police car, pictured, during the escape

The driver then mounts a footpath and drives along it as he escapes the area

Afterwards the police officer and bystander appear to argue over the incident

A spokesman for the force confirmed the attack happened after the officer stopped the male 'over a traffic matter'.

The spokesman said: 'The suspect then made off from the scene, damaging a police car in the process.

'The male officer was not seriously injured but was taken to hospital for treatment.

'A number of enquiries into the incident remain ongoing this evening and anyone who saw the assault is asked to contact Bradford Police on 101 referencing crime number 13180366948

Information can also be given to the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.'