Criminals using covid as 'weapon' against Hartlepool's police force - leaders call for officers to be vaccinated as early as possible

There has been a steady stream of troubling incidents since the beginning of the pandemic which have seen criminals spitting and coughing at police officers, or threatening to do so, and claiming to have coronavirus.

Among the criminals subjecting officers to such twisted acts was John David Gray, 26, of Tower Street, Hartlepool, who claimed he had coronavirus and spat blood into a police vehicle after being apprehended raiding The Royal pub in Church Street.

In another case, Dean Rowbotham, 31, of Colwyn Road, Hartlepool, coughed at officers and claimed to have the deadly virus telling them ‘I hope you get it and die’.

Both men were jailed after the disgusting acts for those and other offenses.

Cleveland’s acting Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Oldroyd and members of the area’s police and crime panel and joined Chief Constable Richard Lewis in calling for officers to be vaccinated as early as possible so they can continue to protect communities.

Glen Teeley, chairman of the Cleveland Police Federation, said officers had been spat at and regularly faced threats from members of the public who were claiming to have the virus.

“Basically people on the streets have weaponised covid and are using it against us, and it is more regular than you would think,” he said.

Mr Mr Teeley, who has been a police officer for 20 years, added: “In Cleveland we have had quite a few cases where a threat [of the virus] has been used to try and avoid arrest, or individuals have coughed in officers’ faces purposely.

“Only a few weeks ago somebody was being put in the car and thought it was funny to cough in the officer’s face telling them they were covid-positive.

“When they got out of the car they actually spat in the officer’s face and said ‘You have got covid now’.

“That officer spat in the face could be covid-positive from that second on, however is still expected to visit vulnerable victims and take statements.”

Mr Teeley said the police did not wish to be viewed as a “special group” and it was equally about stopping the spread of coronavirus.

He said: “There are thousands of officers on the street visiting thousands of houses daily and it is what they are taking into those houses that is the problem.

“If you phone 999 we are the people who will walk through your door and you would want to know that they are safe.”

Mr Teeley said the Government did not appear to have listened so far, adding: “We want our frontline [officers] inoculated now – the ones responding to emergencies daily.

“There has been no point during the pandemic where we could stay at home, we still have to do our jobs.

“If someone has committed a crime they still need to be dealt with, whether they have got covid or not, and we have been hands on with covid-positive people from day one.

“It’s what we are taking home to our families that is the worry and the fact that we are also dealing with some of the most vulnerable people in society, sometimes very elderly people and we are in their houses.”

In January, Chief Constable Lewis penned an open letter urging those that make decisions on prioritisation for vaccinations to “next consider our brave frontline staff”.

He said that not only were officers returning to families following shifts not knowing if they were silent carriers of Covid-19, but they themselves could be transmitting the virus in regular interactions with the public.

The issue was raised again at a meeting of the Cleveland Police and Crime Panel.

Mrs Oldroyd said she acknowledged that police officers were facing challenging and rapidly evolving circumstances during the pandemic and wished to support Mr Lewis.

She also called for the “timely” vaccination of staff in domestic abuse refugees and said she had highlighted this with the Victims Commissioner for England and Wales.

Mrs Oldroyd said: “Vulnerable people fleeing abuse in their own homes, as they are permitted to do under covid rules, must have access to adequately staffed safe spaces.”

The Government continues to insist that vaccinations are being distributed in order of priority, with the eldest and most vulnerable first in line.

But recently vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said it was likely police officers, along with teachers, would be featured in ‘phase two’ of the national vaccine roll-out.

He said the “critical role” of certain professions was being considered by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which determines the priority list for approved jabs.

Mrs Oldroyd has, along with other police and crime commissioners, also raised the matter with Policing Minister Kit Malthouse.

Cleveland Police and Crime Panel chairman Councillor Tony Riordan told those speaking at the meeting: “I fully support your comments and the action of the police and crime commissioner in support of the chief constable’s call.”

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