Police face more spit attacks after sharp rise in assaults on officers

SPIT attacks on police have hit unprecedented levels after assaults on officers rose by a fifth during lockdown.

Figures gathered by the PA news agency from 30 forces show at least 7,147 instances of assault were recorded over the first three months compared with 5,969 same period in 2019.

A recent study found 88 per cent of officers said they had been assaulted during their career, with 39 per cent having been attacked in the past year.

Leicestershire Police recorded the most substantial increase – 102 per cent

– with 205 cases noted in the first three months of lockdown, up from 101 the previous year.

The next largest increase of 57 per cent was recorded in Derbyshire, followed by South Yorkshire and Cleveland, both on 55 per cent.

Simon Cole, the Leicestershire chief constable, said a “particularly distasteful trend” of offenders spitting and coughing on officers and threatening to infect them with coronavirus has also developed countrywide.

He said: “The rise in assaults has huge impacts on staff both physically and mentally, and it has a huge impact on communities.”

Some 38 offenders spat on Leicestershire

Police officers in the first three months of lockdown, compared with 20 last year, and coughing entered the offence records with 10 incidents in 2020, up from zero.

Mr Cole said forces were working together to safeguard officers against assault, and all his officers had been equipped with body cameras to record any incidents. All 43 forces will be establishing more contact time with personal safety trainers, as recommended by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

The NPCC also wants suspects who spit at police to be forced to give a blood sample to test for disease, and spit guards to be issued to all officers if supported by local risk assessments.