Crowd coughing and spitting on Yorkshire police 'not an isolated incident' says police federation

On Sunday, the Yorkshire Evening Post reported on the attack on officers in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in which a large crowd of people coughed at and spat at PC Rachel Storey, who was guarding the scene at a serious incident at the time.

PC Storey said: "So whilst scene guarding at a serious incident tonight we were faced with large crowds shoulder to shoulder, spitting on the floor and coughing at us when asking them to move back.

"Yes coughing then the target of egg throwers on passing motorbikes.... just WHY? no excuse!

"It was just vile..I had to wash my boots last night when I got home as I couldn’t stop thinking about the amount of spit id stood in!!

The behaviour of the group of idiots was roundly criticised, but the Federation says it was far from an isolated incident and that other similar incidents happened elsewhere over the weekend.

Join the Yorkshire Evening Post's Leeds coronavirus news and info group for the latest information as we get itChairman of West Yorkshire Police Federation Brian Booth said: "This is yet another attack on my colleagues which has potentially deadly consequences.

"When will these idiots realise that they are putting everybody in danger with the potential spread of Covid-19.

"Spitting at my colleagues is never acceptable, but it carries greater significance in the current climate and is leading the Government down the path whereby further civil laws to protect us are put in place. In essence behaviour like this will lead to a lockdown.

"Rachel's story was not an isolated incident. We had a suspect in A&E who was spitting at police and at NHS staff. They ended up putting a spit hood on him.

“Police are still going out and having to deal with incidents, whether it’s road traffic collisions, or serious crimes. We will still have scene guards, and if people are prepared to spit at officers, then they are probably not going to adhere to lockdown either.

“Additional powers may help in that situation.

“I think lockdown is going to come, because of people ignoring social distancing measures.”

On Monday, it was confirmed that a woman died in hospital in Leeds after catching coronavirus.

Elsewhere in the county, police in North Yorkshire pleaded with parents not to let their children gather in large crowds in defiance of social distancing advice.Coronavirus - the latest advice

Current advice says people must stay at least two metres away from others at all times when out, even if you have no symptoms.

People are also being asked to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before leaving the house and after getting home. Advice also states that people should not travel unless absolutely necessary - ie for food or for brief exercise in open spaces - and to work from home if possible.