Covid: Dorset Police officer tests positive after 'being spat at'

Chief constable James Vaughan said that the force would do all it could to protect officers from “abhorrent attacks”.

Posting on Twitter on Wednesday night, the chief constable said the force had "an officer testing positive for Covid-19 after being spat at".

Discussing assaults on police, Chief Constable Vaughan said: “Our officers, along with our emergency services colleagues, have remained on the frontline throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, engaging with our communities, protecting the vulnerable and tackling crime.

“It is not acceptable that our officers come into work and face the prospect of being assaulted. For people to be spitting at or biting them is despicable in any circumstances, but particularly in light of the public health emergency we are facing. Not only do these assaults put our officers in danger but also their families.

Dorset Police Chief Constable James Vaughan

“We will continue to deal swiftly and robustly with any offences of this nature and ensure offenders are brought before the court to face justice.

“We will also do all we can to protect our officers and ensure those who are subjected to these abhorrent attacks are supported within the force.”

Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill said it was “absolutely horrifying that an officer has tested positive”.

Dorset PCC Martyn Underhill

“This is something that nobody should have to put up with, and demonstrates the risk that officers and staff face on a daily basis,” said Mr Underhill.

“It also emphasises the need for officers as well as frontline police staff and volunteers to receive the vaccine as soon as is reasonably possible. I welcome comments from the Vaccine Deployment Minister Nadhim Zahawi but we need a decision to be made about this urgently.

“It’s important to stress this is not about jumping the queue or taking the vaccine away from older vulnerable people who of course need it. Instead, it’s about making sure policing is resilient and is able to deal with the extraordinary demands created by the pandemic.”

A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said officers were called to Charminster Road, Bournemouth, at around 7.30am on January 6 to reports of a man in the road stopping traffic.

“He was arrested and during the arrest it was reported that the man spat at an officer,” said the spokeswoman.

“A 41-year-old man of no fixed abode has been charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and being drunk and disorderly in a public place and is due to appear at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, February 23, 2021.”