South Yorkshire Police to use spit hoods following trial

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Latest news in Yorkshire: November 01, 2018 12:19:03 PM

Spit hoods are to be issued to all South Yorkshire Police officers
following a trial of the mesh guards.

The transparent mesh fabric hoods are used to prevent those arrested
from spitting or biting officers.

They have been trialled in South Yorkshire’s custody areas and by staff
transporting prisoners.

A hood was used in 15 spitting incidents in custody suites and nine
during transportation in a six month period since January.

During the same period there were 219 incidents of police officers being
spat at, a report to a South Yorkshire PCC panel reveals.

Members noted there had been no adverse outcomes where the hoods had
been used.

The PCC’s independent ethics panel was told on Monday that “the use of a
spit guard facilitates less intrusive engagement, allowing police
officers still to communicate with the individual whilst he or she is
wearing a spit guard.”

The force has 121 custody staff and 1,326 officers trained to use the
guards. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service they will be
issued to all operational officers.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has backed calls for spit and bite guards
across all police forces in England and Wales.

The Metropolitan Police has decided against front line officers using
the hoods.

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News source: bbc.co.uk