All Essex officers should have spit guards, says Federation

EVERY operational police officer in Essex should have a spit guard on their belt, the force’s Federation has said.

Steve Taylor, Essex Police Federation Chairman, said the kit should be introduced to protect officers’ health and that the public are broadly in favour of spit guards.

The hoods, which are lightweight and breathable, can protect police officers from being bitten and spat at, preventing them catching tuberculosis or the nerve-wracking wait to see if they have contracted diseases such as hepatitis C.

He said: “It is not just in custody where officers get spat at. Officers are being spat at wherever we are in contact with the public, so let’s get them deployed universally across the force.”

The Federation has been working with other forces around the country, collecting data and evidence in support of spit guards, which will then be presented to chiefs.

Representatives have been working with Cambridgeshire Constabulary, where spit guards have been in use for more than a decade, as well as neighbouring Suffolk, Kent and the Met.

Mr Taylor said: “We are talking to the Strategic Independent Reference Group here in Essex – a collection of community leaders and people from outside the organisation who the force can take ideas to about what it is they’re looking to do.

“We are taking the proposal of introducing spit guards to the SIRG ourselves, with a view of canvassing their opinions before we take it to the chief. That’s really important for us, actually, because one of the sticking points around the introduction of spit guards is the perception issue and who better to speak directly to that perception issue than members and leaders of the communities that we serve?”

The Federation has also raised the issue with local MPs and the Essex PCC Roger Hirst.

Mr Taylor added: “We have, I consider, broad support. The next step is to present this to the Chief and Chief Officer team so that a decision can be made about bringing them in.”

Earlier this month, Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said there is “no evidence that spit hoods are necessary or useful” and that “concrete evidence” should be gathered prior their use. And human rights groups have complained that they are inhumane and cruel. But other forces, such as the Met and Hampshire, have brought in the hoods on trial following pressure from officers.