Tougher sentences needed for ‘coronavirus coughs’ on officers

30 March 2020

Hertfordshire Police Federation chair Geoff Bardell has supported calls for more robust laws to be brought in if people continue to ‘coronavirus cough’ in officers’ faces.

Although only limited as yet, a few recent incidents have seen police officers around the country coughed or spat at with the threat or intent of passing on COVID-19 in the process.

This has led to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) threatening a charge of common assault to those who do it and the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) calling for even more robust laws if the situation worsens.

In response to the attacks, Max Hill QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, said he was ‘appalled’ and that anyone who threatens a key worker as they do their job will be prosecuted.

Geoff said: “It is hard to even imagine that we are having a conversation about something as disgusting as this crime in the current climate. I find it difficult to comprehend the levels that some people would stoop to, to try to stop our brave officers doing their jobs.

“Those officers are already putting others first at this time and working very long hours to do whatever they can to protect the public during the coronavirus outbreak.

“Imagine how they must feel when someone threatens them with infection of COVID-19 by coughing or spitting at them.Tougher punishment may need to be put in place so these people feel the full weight of the law for their actions.”

National Federation chair John Apter has also voiced his disgust.

“Reports of a vile minority using the virus as a weapon against police officers trying to keep them safe beggars belief,” he said, “Coughing and spitting, threatening to spread COVID-19 to my colleagues is a disgusting act and must not be tolerated on any level. I have raised this serious issue of people using the virus as a weapon or to cause fear with the Home Secretary this week – suggesting there must be emergency legislation put into place if we see an increase of these kind of incidents.”

The national chair added: “Yes, there are offences already available, but they are generally minor and do not attract the level of seriousness they deserve. We need to see a strong response for those who assault our 999 colleagues in this way - those dedicated men and women who are putting their lives on the line during this crisis.

“Until then, I will keep pushing this as an issue because our emergency service workers deserve nothing less.”