Hampshire chief constable hits out at 'vile' Covid-19 spitting and 'ferocious' attacks on police

Chief constable Olivia Pinkney has spoken out against the ‘vile’ trend of criminals spitting at officers and claiming to have coronavirus.

Hampshire’s top cop warned up to four police officers are being assaulted each day, including one who was stabbed.

Mrs Pinkney said the ‘ferocity’ had increased, along with the use of weaponised Covid-19 and she said ‘every day I hear about another’ incident.

She said: ‘Since Covid began we have typically three or four officers or staff and volunteers a day.

‘That number has stayed steady but what I have seen is an increase in twofold.

‘One is the ferocity of some of the assaults that we’ve had.’

An officer stabbed in Basingstoke is back home and is ‘fine,’ Mrs Pinkney said.

She added: ‘The other aspect is around those using Covid as a weapon.

‘Every day I’m hearing of another of those, at least, and they’re really concerning.

‘Being spat at is vile. It’s one of the most invasive things that my colleagues tell me when they receive it, it’s truly, truly vile because it impacts not just on you but on those around you.

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‘I was talking to one officer who was spat at, whose partner is about to have a baby - literally three weeks away from that - and therefore their concern was if I get this or I don’t know if I’ve got it or not, am I going to be able there at the birth of my child.

‘That’s the kind of impact it has, and it’s vile and it has a huge impact.’

Officers are able to stay at a hotel to self-isolate. None have taken up the offer.

Mrs Pinkney added: ‘A lot of officers and staff are living with people who are shielded or have got other underlying health conditions. They’re worried about taking it home and they’re already out in the public domain.

‘They do that without complaining and they know that they‘re at heightened risk because of their normal duties and I’m grateful to them for that.

‘But to have people use this as a weapon is absolutely vile.

‘I know it’s happening to healthcare workers, and I know it’s happening to some people in shops and businesses as well.’

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