Staffordshire Police Federation secretary Glyn Pattinson is calling for jail sentences for thugs who weaponise Covid-19 by coughing and spitting at police and other emergency service workers while claiming to have the virus.
Glyn’s comments come after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) released statistics today that show assaults on emergency workers were the most common coronavirus-related crime during the first six months of the pandemic.
“It is shocking to think that so many people have weaponised the virus in this way. But there are clearly some disgusting individuals out there. What we need to see now is concerted efforts to ensure that these people are prosecuted and then sentenced to a period in jail not only to punish them but also to try to send out the message to others that this will not be tolerated,” said Glyn.
“Police officers and our colleagues in the other emergency services have been on the frontline throughout the pandemic and are doing their best to serve and protect the public despite the risks to their own health and the number of people spitting or coughing at them is just adding to those risks.”
A total of 1,688 offences out of 6,500 coronavirus-related crimes recorded by the CPS between 1 April and 30 September last year were classed as assaults on emergency service workers.
As well as prosecuting offences under Covid-19 legislation, the CPS has introduced a ‘coronavirus flag’ on its case management system to highlight criminality related to the pandemic as an aggravating feature at sentencing.
This can include coughing and spitting while threatening to ‘infect’ another person with the virus, thefts of essential items or fraudsters taking advantage of the crisis.
In the first six months of the pandemic, the number of cases given the coronavirus flag included: coronavirus offences, 1,137; public order offences, 480; criminal damage, 466; common assaults, 464 and other offences, 2,234.
Max Hill, Director of Public Prosecutions, said of the figures: “Particularly appalling is the high number of assaults on emergency workers still taking place and I will continue to do everything in my power to protect those who so selflessly keep us safe during this crisis.”
National Federation chair John Apter has also spoken out on the latest figures and called for jail sentences for offenders so that emergency workers did not feel let down by the justice system.
He said: “Being spat and coughed at, in the middle of a pandemic which has taken so many lives, is disgusting, dangerous and inhumane. In some cases, individuals who commit these offences are even saying they have the virus and hope the officer catches it then dies.
“This stark increase in coronavirus-related crime may shock decent members of society but will not come as any real surprise to colleagues. Police officers on the frontline are increasingly facing abuse from a small minority who think nothing of deliberately weaponising the virus, and these people are the lowest of the low.
“The frustration we have in dealing with these individuals involves sentencing, as it’s inconsistent and often leaves victims feeling completely let down by the criminal justice system.”
He added: “We have recently seen examples of Covid being transmitted to colleagues through these attacks. When someone knowingly has the virus or believes they have it and then wilfully coughs or spits at a police officer, we need the CPS to consider a much more serious charge than the ‘Assaults on emergency workers’ category’. Without this, these types of attacks will continue to rise.”
