MPF tells Diane Abbott: Talk to officers about ‘realities of being spat at’

Officers have hit back at Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott after she criticised a decision by two forces to introduce the use of spit guards on the policing frontline. Ms Abbott was branded “out of touch” and “deluded” for tweeting: “No evidence that spit hoods are necessary or useful.” Ms Abbott’s comments came as Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary announced they were handing-out the mesh masks to their frontline staff, after 432 reports of their officers being spat at were recorded since April last year. And Metropolitan Police Federation (MPF) chairman Ken Marsh berated the Labour opposition minister for her words, saying she should talk to officers about the “realities of being spat at on duty”. Mr Marsh said: “I am beyond saddened by these comments from an experienced London MP. “Just this past week, a Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer was spat at in the mouth and eye by a suspect. He is now anxiously awaiting test results.” Mr Marsh pointed to the 802 MPS officers spat at by criminals in the past year – with 106 requiring hospital treatment. Some 42 police officers faced the abuse at the Notting Hill Carnival alone – with four needing hospital treatment. Human rights campaigners have criticised the deployment of the mesh hoods as “distressing” and “degrading”. Groups, such as Liberty and Inquest, have argued that, in the past, guards were often used unnecessarily and were used on disabled people and children. But officers took to social media to argue they were needed to protect police from contracting nasty diseases, criticising the Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington as “completely out of touch with reality”. Responding to Ms Abbott’s criticism, MPS Superintendent Roy Smith tweeted: “@HackneyAbbott always open to ideas – would you be willing to meet one of my colleagues infected with Hepatitis C after being spat at to discuss?” Supt Smith’s post was followed by a deluge of tweets accusing the Jeremy Corbyn ally of being “narrow minded and out of touch”. But she later posted that she was sorry the tweet had been “misinterpreted”, adding that “police safety is paramount” and she would be “happy to meet” Supt Smith to discuss spit guards. Sean Underwood, an officer with Avon and Somerset Constabulary, posted: “Get my blood results tomorrow after spat at twice, in face by someone with more diseases than I can name!” Both Thames Valley and Hampshire forces defended the move and said the guards will be implemented once full training has been completed. David Hardcastle, assistant chief constable of operations for Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police, said: “Spit guards are being introduced to help protect officers, other emergency services personnel and members of the public from this unacceptable and potentially dangerous behaviour. “Our officers put themselves at risk every day to protect the public and we want to ensure that they have the appropriate equipment to deal with the challenges they face. “Everyone should be able to go to work without the possibility of being assaulted, including being spat at. “We have listened to concerns raised by officers and our Police Federation, as well as recent recommendations from the National Police Chiefs’ Council, and have held discussions with our independent advisory group which comprises members of the public.” In December, the MPS pressed ahead with a three-month pilot – rolling out the mesh masks to the “controlled environment” of custody suites in north-east London. The MPS held consultations with community groups, partner organisations and magistrates on whether officers should use the hoods to stop detainees from spitting at or biting police staff. The force agreed to take a consensus of views before taking a decision on the project. Now it has introduced the scheme in Forest Gate, Newham, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Leyton, Waltham Forest and Havering. The pilot was first agreed last February. In September, the MPS was all set to start a tria