The chair of Cambridgeshire Police Federation has condemned offenders using coronavirus as a weapon after an officer tested positive having been spat at.
Liz Groom was interviewed by the BBC following the news that the Cambridgeshire officer had attended an incident in Soham on 6 January which resulted in him being spat at by an individual claiming to have the virus.
“Coronavirus seems to be a weapon to some people – it’s that extra threat of ‘I’ve got coronavirus’ and then they spit.
“You can imagine the stress and the anxiety that causes the officer and also their family. Officers have families at home and what they don’t want to do is go home and infect their family as well.”
Chief Constable Nick Dean described the incident as “disgusting”, adding: “While the officer’s test result was possibly not directly linked to the incident, it does put into perspective the dangerous nature of policing.”
Liz added: “Policing is difficult enough at the moment without the added threat of officers being spat at. This sickening behaviour by some can only be condemned.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel announced earlier this week that she will continue to support policing throughout the pandemic.
Calling for people to follow guidelines, she said: “It is not acceptable that a minority of the general public are putting the health of the nation at risk by flouting lockdown rules.”