The use of spit hoods is controversial - there have been incidents where people have died in police custody after wearing one.
Sergeant Simon Kempton, speaking for the Police Federation, the body that represents rank and file officers across England and Wales, has said it is time to issue all officers with spit guards, or spit hoods as they are also known.
But Sgt Kempton said:"It's an emotive issue for me, because I've had other people's blood in my mouth after they've spat at me. "The crime of spitting or biting someone is terrible at the best of times. But during this crisis, when COVID-19 is being weaponised against my colleagues, it heightens that fear."
Bedfordshire's chief constable, Garry Forsyth, said the very rapid introduction of the new legislation had resulted in some initial areas of confusion.
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