Yahoo News Coughs directed at emergency workers will be classed as assault and could result in two years in jail, CPS says
People who deliberately cough at emergency workers while claiming to have coronavirus could face up to two years in jail, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said.
The warning follows a string of threats linked to the deadly Covid-19 virus.
The CPS said assaults against emergency workers were punishable by up to two years in prison.
It added that coughs directed as a threat towards other key workers or members of the public could be charged as common assault.
Max Hill QC, Director of Public Prosecution said on Thursday: "Emergency workers are more essential than ever as society comes together to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
"I am therefore appalled by reports of police officers and other frontline workers being deliberately coughed at by people claiming to have Covid-19.
"Let me be very clear: this is a crime and needs to stop. The CPS stands behind emergency and essential workers and will not hesitate to prosecute anybody who threatens them as they go about their vital duties."
It comes as Home Secretary Priti Patel announced on Thursday that new enforcement powers would be rolled out with those flouting lockdown rules potentially facing prison time.
The warning also comes after Darren Rafferty, 45, admitted on Wednesday to deliberately coughing at Metropolitan Police officers before claiming he was suffering from coronavirus.
He admitted causing grievous bodily harm to his former partner and three counts of assault on an emergency worker and faces sentencing next month.
David Mott, 40, was jailed for 26 weeks on Wednesday after threatening to spit at police in Blackburn after officers questioned him about being with two others following the announcement of stricter social distancing rules on Monday night, the CPS said.
West Midlands Police said 35-year-old Mehdi Razmdideh has been charged with shoplifting and assault after he allegedly spat and coughed at shop workers while shouting: "I've got coronavirus."
Razmdideh, who was assessed by a nurse and found not to have the virus, is accused of stealing two beard trimmers before targeting security staff at the B&M store in Stechford Retail Park, Birmingham, on Wednesday.
And a group of teenagers spat in the face of an RSPCA officer as she rescued a swan on Saturday, shouting "have corona bitch", according to the animal charity.
The CPS said new guidance published in January strengthened its approach to assaults on emergency workers after analysis revealed it had prosecuted almost 20,000 cases since legislation doubling the maximum sentence first came into force in November 2018.
John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, welcomed Mr Hill's intervention, but said emergency laws must be put in place if the attacks increase.
"Reports of a vile minority using the virus as a weapon against police officers trying to keep them safe beggars belief," he said.
"Coughing and spitting, threatening to spread Covid-19 to my colleagues is a disgusting act and must not be tolerated on any level.
"I have raised this serious issue of people using the virus as a weapon or to cause fear with the Home Secretary this week - suggesting there must be emergency legislation put into place if we see an increase of these kind of incidents."
Mr Apter said charges currently available do not "attract the level of seriousness they deserve."
He added: "We need to see a strong response for those who assault our 999 colleagues in this way - those dedicated men and women who are putting their lives on the line during this crisis.
"Until then, I will keep pushing this as an issue because our emergency service workers deserve nothing less."
Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted: "Reports of people deliberately coughing on our hardworking emergency workers are appalling."
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