Spitting attacks on officers on the rise

16 October 2024

More police officers than ever are being spat at while carrying out their duties, according to the deputy chair of West Midlands Police Federation.

And Jase Dooley has spoken out about the ‘horrendous’ impact that spitting and needle attacks have on members.

“It’s disgusting,” he said, “When you speak to our members many say they’d rather be punched or rather have a physical injury than being spat in the face.

“There are all sorts of illnesses and diseases that can be passed to our members – the risk is horrendous.

“It’s the same when officers are bitten and their skin is broken. I’ve never known the number of officers being spat at to be so high.”

Hospital

Jase said such attacks can be upsetting and worrying for the officer.

“They have to go to hospital,” he explained, “They undergo tests, maybe vaccinations, and can be on medication for six months and they won’t know until after six months if they have got anything.

“The worry is horrendous. It’s not just work, it affects their personal and private life, and relationships with partners.”

West Midlands Police Federation chair Rich Cooke has spoken about his own experience of being contaminated with blood while making an arrest after posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, about an officer injured by a needle.

Rich said: “There was a bloke pouring with blood, and I got blood in my mouth. You go through a few months of a very difficult personal life.

Disruptive

“They are testing for HIV, you have to be tested for three months. It’s a difficult period where you’re worried if you have this or that. It’s only a small chance but it’s very disruptive.

“The drugs they give you, in my case they knocked me out a bit. It can be a lonely place.”

Jase said with the rise in such attacks on police officers, members should consider using spit guards to protect themselves if they fear they are going to be spat at.

He said the use of spit guards, as in all personal safety tactical decisions, was controlled by the national decision model (NDM) and the officer’s own justification for their actions.

Jase said: “When an officer makes a split-second decision to put a spit guard on someone it’s because they think they’re going to be spat at, or they have blood in their mouth, and blood is being spat everywhere when they’re talking, or they have previous for spitting on officers.

“Our members are dealing with this on a daily basis and we need to protect them. “I’d say to them have the confidence that if you’re using spit guards or using force and you are completely justified in your actions we will support them, we will fight their cause.”

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