Police officers recounted experiences of being targeted by individuals who intentionally tried to infect them with COVID-19 during the pandemic, according to testimony shared with the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry. Some officers reported being spat on, bitten, and coughed at by criminals who stated they had the virus and intended to cause harm.
These accounts were part of the inquiry's 'Let's Be Heard' project, which collected over 12,500 personal experiences from people in Scotland regarding the pandemic. Police officers on the front lines of enforcing COVID-19 regulations shared their challenges dealing with individuals who disregarded guidance and actively sought to expose officers to the virus.
One officer described being spat and coughed on by individuals who explicitly stated they had the virus and wished death upon the officer and their family. Another recounted having to break up lockdown-violating parties and restrain violent individuals while being subjected to spitting. These officers also worked in a custody center specifically for individuals who tested positive for COVID-19.
The 'Let's Be Heard' report, which included testimony from 36 officers, highlighted a common sentiment that police had been exposed to