THE Lord Advocate has been criticised for not doing more to protect police officers from being coughed at by people claiming to have the coronavirus.
In advice issued by the Lord Advocate on Wednesday, the country’s chief legal officer shied away from what the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) say is a “a disturbing trend”.
The SPF wants anyone who threatens an officer with coronavirus to be kept in custody.
Yesterday, a 55-year old London man who coughed on a police officer and claimed to have coronavirus was jailed for six months.
Adam Lewis told the officer: “I am Covid and I am going to cough in your face and you will get it.”
SPF chair David Hamilton said: “It is sickening that people resort to this kind of malice against those that are trying to protect society. This horrific conduct threatens the safety of not just our officers, but their families and colleagues too.
“The absence of specific direction from the Lord Advocate to keep such persons in custody was a missed opportunity to show that society will not tolerate such attacks on its police officers. We need only look down south to see how offenders are being quickly and severely punished by the courts.
“We urge the Lord Advocate to match England’s stance and review his guidance.”
A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said: “Prosecutors will respond robustly to any reported person who deliberately endangers life or causes fear and alarm by pretending to do so, including by coughing on or spitting at someone.
“Such conduct, depending on the circumstances, may be an assault, or constitute the crime of culpable and reckless conduct.
“COPFS is working closely with Police Scotland to ensure the continued effective investigation and prosecution of crime, properly addressing criminal behaviour that threatens public safety and the safety of emergency workers.”
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