South Yorkshire police representative voices concern at people coughing and spitting at cops

Steve Kent spoke out after the National Police Chiefs Council noted a 24 per cent increase in assaults on officers during the coronavirus pandemic compared to the same period last year.

LATEST: Every murder case in Sheffield and South Yorkshire police have been working on this year

Mr Kent said: “Let’s be clear - any assault on a police officer or emergency service worker is an utter disgrace, full stop.

“However there is something particularly disgusting about spitting and coughing in someone’s face - especially in these times.

“The government’s review in doubling the sentence provision for assaults on emergency service workers can’t come soon enough. There also needs to be pressure put on the courts to actually implement them if and when they are changed otherwise there is little point.”

The Police Federation represents rank and file police officers.

APPEAL: Concern for missing Doncaster man last seen boarding train at Sheffield

John Apter, national chairman of the organisation, said coronavirus is being used as a ‘weapon’ against emergency service workers by some people.

In an interview with LBC he said: “We noticed very early on in this crisis, in this pandemic, that there were more and more cases of these vile, disgusting individuals using this virus as a weapon and they were coughing and spitting at not only police officers but at paramedics and other people in the emergency services and saying to them ‘I have this virus and I hope you catch it as well’.