Most Met Police officers 'want to carry spit guards', says poll

Nearly all Metropolitan Police officers want to carry spit guards, a new survey suggests.

A poll carried out by the force's police federation found 5,269 out of 5,572 members questioned, 95%, thought all Met officers should be issued with the mesh hoods.

And 5,133 (92%) said they would be prepared to carry one after they had been trained.

In September force chief Commissioner Cressida Dick said using the guards on the streets could make officers more likely to get "a good kicking" while struggling with aggressive suspects.

They are used around three times per week in custody suites in the capital, but Ms Dick has not permitted their use on the beat.

This is despite British Transport Police - who potentially attend the same call-outs - using the hoods.

Results of a Metropolitan Police Federation survey published on Tuesday showed around half of those who responded, 2,331, had been spat at while on duty in the past two years, and 562 were bitten.

One officer said he was forced to take a two-week course of preventative drugs after he was spat at in a custody suite, and as a result of the side effects was not allowed to hold his newborn daughter.

Speaking to the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee in September, the Commissioner said she was waiting for evidence from other forces and the Met Federation on instances when a spit guard would have helped.