More than 250 spitting offences at Kent police officers since the covid-19 pandemic began

22 January 2021

Kent Police officers have been spat at more than 250 times since the Covid-19 pandemic began, shocking new figures have shown.

The force recorded 252 crimes where officers were assaulted by being spat at, 21 per cent of the 1,191 total assaults against police between 2 March and 6 December.

Kent Police Federation Chair Neil Mennie hit out at the “staggering figures”, adding that they highlighted the need for police officers to be vaccinated against Covid as soon as possible.

Neil said: “These figures are truly staggering. Spitting will always be abhorrent but combine that at a time where there is a risk of catching Covid it becomes even more upsetting.

"Police officers and staff are putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the public and enforce the Coronavirus legislation against the very people who are breaking the rules and more likely to be spreading the virus.

“There is a human being behind each of these assaults. On each of these occasions those officers and staff will be worrying about their own safety, and worrying about putting their families at risk when they return home. The Government have a responsibility to ensure that front line police officers are prioritised for the vaccine.”

Boris Johnson told Prime Minister’s Questions this week (20 January) that police officers, teachers, carers, and other key workers should be vaccinated "as soon as possible”. But as it stands, there are 32 million people ahead of them in the queue.

Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott also called for vaccine priority for officers who are “putting their lives on the line”.

Mr Scott said: “Officers and staff are being assaulted, they are being spat at. They are dealing with people who are not wearing masks. They're dealing with other members of the public too. They're going out every single day putting their lives on the line for us as well as dealing with a deadly pandemic.

“There is a risk that if they don't get the vaccine soon enough that that could impact upon the ability of the force to respond. However, that's not the case at the moment.

“There is a human being behind each of these assaults. On each of these occasions those officers and staff will be worrying about their own safety, and worrying about putting their families at risk when they return home."