ANYONE convicted of assaulting a police officer by coughing or spitting at them should be sent to jail.<\/p>\n
That is the view of South Yorkshire Police Federation, which believes a precedent should be set about punishing offenders who weaponise Covid-19.<\/p>\n
Chairman Steve Kent said: \u201cThese type of assaults seem to have replaced the normal, everyday assaults on PCs that we\u2019d have. Cops are getting assaulted out there pretty much every day in one form or other, even if it\u2019s just a minor punch or push.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis seems to sort have replaced that and it\u2019s been weaponised, as we know.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a couple of cases where cops have been spat at and coughed at, the courts have basically issued them with a curfew \u2013 which during this time is an absolute joke \u2013 and a suspended sentence. One of the cops contacted me and said, \u2018have you heard about this?\u2019. I couldn\u2019t believe it.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t always see every single outcome, and I appreciate that. But for me, if someone does it and is found guilty of a Covid cough or spitting-related issue, it should be an absolute, no questions asked, prison. Even if it\u2019s just for four or five weeks. It sets a precedent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve Kent is disappointed at the so-far mainly lenient sentences handed down in the force area for coronavirus-related assaults.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cFor some reason there\u2019s very few cases that seem to be ending up in a custodial sentence in Sheffield. So we\u2019re seeing nationally there\u2019s a lot of people getting sent to prison for it, which obviously we are completely over the moon for those cops.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we just don\u2019t seem to be getting quite the same level of punishment in our Sheffield courts at the minute, and South Yorkshire courts.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there does seem to be a bit of a culture of that at the minute. And I don\u2019t necessarily know why.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nationally, the PFEW have called spitting and coughing on emergency workers during the crisis a \u2018vile assault\u2019 and badged perpetrators as the \u2018lowest form of life.\u2019<\/p>\n
Chair John Apter said: \u201cThese are the sort of vile, disgusting individuals that my colleagues have to deal with daily.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy this is different, is this virus is so contagious and so deadly, and there is a real sense of fear out there. Those who weaponise this virus are the lowest form of life \u2013 they deserve every day they spend in prison.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re seeing these individuals continuing to abuse and spit and cough at not only my colleagues but paramedics, nurses and others \u2013 it\u2019s disgusting, and they need to be made an example of.\u201d<\/p>\n