The stark warning from the Director of Public Prosecutions has come following key workers being coughed at by people who have claimed to have the coronavirus. Max Hill QC said: “Emergency workers are more essential than ever as society comes together to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am therefore appalled by reports of police officers and other frontline workers being deliberately coughed at by people claiming to have Covid-19.

“Let me be very clear: this is a crime and needs to stop.

“The CPS stands behind emergency and essential workers and will not hesitate to prosecute anybody who threatens them as they go about their vital duties.”

This comes after Darren Rafferty, 45, admitted to deliberately coughing on police officers and claiming he had coronavirus this week.

Rafferty also admitted to causing grievous bodily harm to his former partner and three counts of assault on an emergency worker and faces sentencing next month.

In another incident, David Mott, 40, has been jailed after he threatened to spit at police officers in Blackburn after they asked him what he was doing out in a group.

A continuous cough is one of the main symptoms of coronavirus.

SEE MORE: Britons using coronavirus lockdown to become guitar heroes

The NHS has said suffered of the virus could cough a lot for more than an hour, or suffer from three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours.

Chair of the Police Federation in England and Wales, John Apter has said: “I wanted emergency legislation brought in to offer increased protection for all 999 workers who are being attacked in this way.

“There are offences already available but they are generally minor and do not attract the level of seriousness they deserve.

DON’T MISS: 

Coronavirus: The temperature to wash your clothes at to kill COVID-19 [REVIEW]
Fury as Spanish bullfighters demand £650m compensation [VIDEO]
Coronavirus symptoms: COVID-19 victim reveals ‘strange’ symptoms [COMMENT]

“In our campaign to see better protection for 999 workers, I have often been a critic of the sometimes soft sentences dished out to those who assault my colleagues and those from other emergency services.

“In this time of crisis the comments from Max Hill are welcome and timely.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted: “Reports of people deliberately coughing on our hardworking emergency workers are appalling.”

The police have also been given new powers to punish people who are breaking the Government’s lockdown, which include spot fines.

Source: Read Full Article