A Kent MP has warned anyone convicted of spitting at police officers to expect jail time as he called for a "zero tolerance" approach.

It comes after the revelation that assaults on emergency workers across the county have risen by 43% between March and October.

Since the initial lockdown there has been 570 more assaults on emergency workers, bringing the total to 1,910, Kent MPs were told in a meeting with Kent Police Chief Constable Alan Pughsley today.

Spitting and coughing at workers has been a recurring issue during the Covid-19 pandemic, with 376 such incidents in the same period, of which 284 were targeted at police officers.

Of these, 147 have been charged in relation to these incidents.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson expressed his "shock" at the figures and reminded offenders their actions would lead to time behind bars.

He said: “I am pleased that the courts are playing their part in dealing with these people, but we need to be absolutely clear that any assault on an emergency worker will lead to imprisonment.

"People must understand that the vile practice of spitting at PCSOs and police officers during this pandemic, means you won’t get bail, you won't get a community penalty, you will be going to prison."

“These people are there to protect us and the judicial system needs to protect them."

The Tory MP went on to praise Kent Police as the "best force in the country" but said their role was being undermined by the fear of assault and that a "zero tolerance" approach was vital.

He added: “This increase is both shocking and shameful and has to be met with an approach that leads to anyone assaulting the police knowing that prison is inevitable.”

In April, Mr Johnson and 16 other MPs representing Kent constituencies signed a letter sent to senior Kent judges , calling for anyone convicted of "coughing or spitting at or in any other way threatening an emergency worker using coronavirus" to face an immediate jail term.

Emergency workers include police officers, paramedics, prison officers, firefighters, search and rescue personnel, and NHS workers, including admin staff whose activities involve public facing roles.

"You won’t get bail, you won't get a community penalty, you will be going to prison"

The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act was introduced in 2018, and says anyone found guilty of common assault or battery directed towards such a worker faces a maximum 12 months in prison, to be administered at the court's discretion.

But the law was branded a "disgrace" by the Police Federation earlier this year after statistics revealed only 13% of those charged under the Act faced jail and just 18% were fined in its first year of operation.

Its chairman John Apter said: "Given that police officers are doing their level best to help protect people during this pandemic, some people need to take a long, hard look at themselves and their behaviour."

Maximum jail terms are now set to double to two years after tougher sentencing laws were passed by the government last month with Home Secretary Priti Patel indicating this would also cover convictions for coughing and spitting.

The increase is the second change in two years after the 2018 law doubled the maximum sentence from six months to a year.

It comes amid a campaign by the wife of PC Andrew Harper – who suffered catastrophic injuries and died during a pursuit in Berkshire last year – for killers of emergency workers to face mandatory life sentences .

Meanwhile, Kent Police said it was increasing the use of tasers and providing its officers with spit and blood guards and new body worn video cameras to keep them safe, as it continues to lobby for longer sentences.

Matthew Scott, Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Any assault on an emergency worker is appalling and those committing these vile acts, including spitting, biting, threatening behaviour or violence, deserve the strongest prison sentences.

"I am pleased that Gareth Johnson MP is being proactive in supporting our brave police officers and staff, who I know are grateful for his help.”

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