ESSEX police officers will be \u201cthat little bit safer\u201d as they go out on patrol after the force agreed to roll out spit guards to all cops in the county.<\/p>\n
Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor said he was delighted the force had considered and listened to the evidence and agreed to include spit guards in personal protective equipment following appropriate training.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will be on the belt of ever police officer and this is great news for our colleagues on the frontline,\u201d said Steve. \u201cBeing spat at is a vile crime and it is not part of the job. We must protect the protectors and this a piece of protective equipment will provide a safe system to help to achieve this.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen anybody is spat at there is a risk to their health. No one \u2013 police officer or not \u2013 should have to go through the anguish that this can cause, when they may, for instance, be advised that they should not be intimate with their family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am really pleased that police officers in Essex will have this vital piece of equipment and be that little bit safer following this decision. At the end of the day if a person doesn\u2019t want to be placed in a spit guard, they shouldn\u2019t be spitting at a police officer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since 2015 Essex Police has recorded 48 cases of officers being spat at.<\/p>\n
At last month\u2019s Police Federation of England and Wales Annual Conference, Home Secretary Amber Rudd told delegates she was in favour of spit guards being introduced to officers.<\/p>\n
Steve also had praise for Chief Constable Steve Kavanagh in coming to this decision following regular discussion with the Federation. \u201cWe asked and the force listened to why spit guards were needed,\u201d he added. \u201cAnd we must give credit to the Chief Constable for engaging with us, hearing the evidence we presented and working with us on this matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
More than half the forces in England and Wales issue spit guards to their officers and the British Transport Police already use them in Essex.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"