Spit guards rolled out in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire Police officers will have access to spit and bite guards after the force purchased more than 5,000 pieces of equipment.
The medically-approved devices will be available to all frontline officers to help protect them from assaults.
The guards will be issued once officers have completed a practical training course, with particular focus on using them on people with mental health issues.
The rollout follows research involving different models of spit and bite guards and consultation with the 25 other forces currently issuing them.
Assistant Chief Constable Shaun West said: “We’ve made spit and bite guards available to officers on our frontline as a protective piece of kit to help protect against the worst effects of spitting and biting.
“None of our officers should have to endure assaults of any kind and being bitten or having blood spat at you is particularly unpleasant. It should never be considered as an acceptable part of the job but, sadly, it does happen.”
