‘Don’t use COVID-19 as a weapon’

4 May 2020

West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon Nott has urged the public to respect officers and front-line workers dealing with the coronavirus crisis in a second TV interview.

Jon says it is unacceptable for police and fellow key workers to be assaulted, spat at or coughed on at any time, but particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: “We would urge the public not to use COVID-19 as a weapon, not to assault any key workers at any point for any reason, but particularly with COVID – don’t use that as a weapon.

“It’s bad enough with the pandemic that we have at the moment without officers being assaulted, so please respect our officers and respect all key workers.”

Jon’s comments came in an interview on ITV Central News for a feature drawing attention to incidents where front-line workers have been coughed on or spat at while on duty.

The news item featured a video that has been launched by doctors, nurses, paramedics, police officers, prison officers, firefighters and other front-line workers as they spearhead the nationwide response to the outbreak.

The video reinforces Jon’s comments and urges people to treat key workers with respect.

And Jon has called for people who put the health and wellbeing of key workers at risk to face the stiffest possible sentences.

“The vast majority of the public are doing their bit to help officers and front-line workers tackle this pandemic by following the Government advice to stay at home,” said Jon.

“But there is a minority who treat our colleagues with complete disrespect and put them at risk. Anyone found guilty of committing such appalling acts on front-line staff – who are putting themselves in harm’s way and being away from their loved ones to protect us – should face the full force of the law.”

The Central News interview was broadcast on Friday. The day before Jon featured in a news item on BBC Midlands Today again talking about officers being coughed on or spat at.

Watch the Central News feature and the front-line workers’ video