Police officers assaulted and spat at after being called to domestic incident in Flintshire

Two police officers assaulted and spat at after being called to a ‘disturbance’ in Flintshire during the early hours of this morning, Wednesday February 3rd. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Officers were called to a domestic incident at an address in Holywell and while dealing with it two of them were physically assaulted and spat at. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Police have said a man and woman and have warned assaults on police “will not be tolerated.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Chief Constable Carl Foulkes said: “Every day our officers deal with very difficult and challenging situations and put themselves in harm’s way to uphold the law and protect the public. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Being assaulted is not and should never be regarded as ‘part of the job’. Front line officers have a difficult job which has been made more demanding during the Covid pandemic when they still have to come into close contact with individuals. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“To be assaulted and spat at any time is unacceptable, but in the present circumstances is particularly disgusting and dangerous, as well as being distressing for the officers, their families and colleagues.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mark Jones, General Secretary of North Wales Police Federation said: “To deliberately spit at another human being, let alone a police officer who is doing their duty, is vile and simply deplorable. On any given day it would be a repulsive act, but with the constant threat faced of COVID this sort of behaviour makes it even more sinister. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Our police officers, day in, day out protect us all, and to be attacked and assaulted in any way will never be tolerated. Those responsible must be held accountable for their actions through the courts.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Yesterday, Pat Astbury, chairwoman of North Wales Police and Crime Panel (PCP) said “spitting and coughing” at officers has helped make assaults on emergency workers the most common pandemic crime. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A recent survey by the police federation found 28% of North Wales Police officers believed they had contracted coronavirus during the pandemic. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

More than 40% of those believed they caught it at work and 29% percent reported they had become unwell with Covid-19 after being assaulted in the line of duty by someone infected with the virus. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Officers also said they had been frequently exposed to incidents placing them at risk of physical and/or psychological harm, with 16% stating they had suffered one or more injuries requiring medical attention due to work-related violence in the pandemic. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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