Habitual spitters dealt with - DodgeBoard.com

wordsmythe · #1 (**permalink**) 06-08-2007, 07:21 AM

Habitual spitters forced into headgear | The Daily Telegraph

QUEENSLAND criminals known to be habitual spitters will be made to wear special headgear to prevent them spitting on police.

Police Minister Judy Spence said a successful 10-week trial ran in 11 police cells last year of the single-use, disposable spit nets which were similar to the garb worn by bee keepers.

From today, the trial has been extended to eight major watch-houses for one year.

"Under the guidelines of the trial, the spit nets will only be used on offenders who spit at police or have a history of spitting at police," Ms Spence told state parliament.

"If offenders co-operate with police and behave themselves, they will avoid the wearing of spit nets completely."

Ms Spence said spitting at someone doing their job was repulsive and, unfortunately, on the rise, with 222 recorded incidents of police officers being spat on between October 2005 and October 2006.

"It is even more heinous when we realise that some of the people who are in watch-houses have diseases such as hepatitis and may be only too willing to spit at police officers to try to pass on their diseases," she said.

"These actions are not only abhorrent, but they potentially expose police officers to three months or more of worry while they wait for extensive and expensive medical tests, and often psychological treatment.

"This is a daunting and stressful process that one of these spit nets may be able to prevent."

The nets would also help protect the nurses, chaplains, lawyers and cell visitors who come in contact with these offenders, Ms Spence said.

The results of the 12-month trial will be evaluated by the Queensland Police Service Ethical Standards Command and the Crime and Misconduct Commission.