In August 2016, ACC Tim Jacques, chair of the NPCC portfolio for Health, Safety and Welfare, wrote to all chief constables recommending that forces give serious consideration to providing the guards to all frontline officers. The decision on whether or not to make spit and bite guards available to officers is down to individual chiefs, therefore we have been pushing the NPCC to encourage their use. What is being done to make spit and bite guards more available to officers? The use of spit and bite guards was approved by the Association of Chief Police Officers (now the National Police Chiefs' Council) in 2007 by virtue of their inclusion within the National Personal Safety Manual. The other option of course is not to spit at police officers.' Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones tried one on and said: 'I spent 15 minutes in a spit guard to see what it felt like can't say I minded it too much. There are a small number of commercially available products that are designed for this purpose and each is manufactured from a fine, translucent mesh that doesn't impede the person's breathing or impinge significantly on their senses. Spit and bite guards, made from a loose-fitting, lightweight mesh fabric, are placed over a person's head to help minimise the risks of communicable diseases (blood-borne viruses (BBV)) and injuries associated with spitting and biting. This can obviously have a big impact on their day-to-day life at this time and mental health. Though the likelihood of catching a disease from being spat at is low, the effects of being spat at for an officer can be long term, as they may need to undergo anti-viral treatment and have the uncertainty of infection - currently the assailant is not required by law to give a blood sample which would let officers know if they are at risk of contracting life-threatening diseases. Spitting is an abhorrent form of assault, with some officers saying they would 'prefer to be punched in the face than spat at'. He then told her: 'I'm sure I will never see you again and you better hope I don't.We think that police officers should have the necessary and appropriate kit and equipment to do their jobs, and this includes spit and bite guards. Judge Linford continued to say a lot of people spoke very highly of Bovey and that it had affected his decision. She will also have to pay the victim £150 compensation within six months. She received an 18-month community order and is required to undergo mental health treatment. You are 19 years of age and you've lost your good character forever.' 'You should never have done such a thing and you've now lost your good character. It was disgusting and not a very nice thing to do to a person who was really just trying to help you. 'You behaved extremely erratically, he had to restrain you, you spat at him and a bit later on you spat at him again.

You were seen wandering outside by hospital security staff and Mr Miles went to see what the problem was. She was then treated and sedated and refused to attend a voluntary interview.Īs part of his sentencing, Judge Robert Linford said she had 'ruined her good character' at the young age of just 19.

Choose what you want hereīoth times the spit landed on his face and body.

Get the best stories delivered to your inbox every day. It was during treatment the court heard she 'continued to be abusive and threatening' towards those trying to help her. The police later arrived and arrested the defendant who was deemed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Whilst being restrained the defendant spat in Mr Miles' face. She was then restrained with the assistance of paramedics. Security was alerted and attended at which point security officer Tommy Miles found her 'behaving very erratically'. Read more: 23 men whose face every Cornwall woman should know Paramedics took Bovey to Treliske where she began 'wandering' outside between ambulances and the helipad. She suffered a 'significant' injury which required medical attention. The court heard how an 'erratic' Bovey needed medical attention following a fall during a night out in Truro in April 2022 and was taken to hospital. Jasmine Bovey, 19, assaulted an employee at Royal Cornwall Hospital who was trying to assist her with injuries following a night out.īovey, of Harrison Gardens in Illogan, appeared at Truro Crown Court on Friday, September 8, for sentencing. A drunk teenager has 'ruined her good character' by twice spitting in the face of an emergency worker, a judge said.

Spat on face