The Metropolitan Police has announced that it will be rolling out spit guards to response team officers as well as rewarding officers with a one-off ‘recognition’ payment of £350 for
In a statement released by the Metropolitan Police, a spokesperson said:
‘In recognition of the extraordinary pressures officers have faced in London throughout 2017 and 2018 the Commissioner has today announced the payment of a one-off recognition payment of £350 to the majority of Metropolitan police officers up to and including the rank of Chief Superintendent.
‘The payment recognises their superb response to the multiple terrorist attacks in London, the Grenfell Tower fire, other major events, and responding robustly to the rise in violence across London amongst many other pressures.
‘The impact on officers, and the disruption to their family lives over this
‘We planned in our budgets for higher pay for police officers in 2018
‘By planning effectively, we can
‘A £350 payment cannot come close to matching the contribution in delivering through these extraordinary times, but nevertheless it is right that recognition is made’.
Speaking about the plan to roll out spit guards to response team officers, the statement said:
‘Detailed guidelines [are] to be developed to allow the
‘This follows a careful consultation about an extension in their use in order to provide more protection for officers against getting bitten or spat at’.
Currently, only Met officers based in custody suites have access to spit guards, which has meant that officers on response teams have had little protection when dealing with individuals who decide to spit on them or bite them.
Officers therefore put themselves at considerable risk of contracting an infectious disease if, for example, someone was to spit blood onto their faces.
Thus the announcement to give response team officers better protection by allowing them to have spit guards will be very much welcomed not only by response team officers in the
Detailing some of the additional measures to help protect officers on the front line, the Met also announced their plan to increase the
An extra 400 mobile fingerprint devices will also be introduced to officers which are a vital tool in initial investigations which take place by officers who are out on patrol.
Speaking about the plan, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Cressida Dick, said:
“My role is to ensure officers have what they need to do their jobs effectively and safely.
“The announcements I have made to colleagues today are important issues that are intended to support officers and staff in keeping London safe.
“Officers, in
The London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, said:
“Our police officers work extremely hard and in challenging circumstances to keep Londoners and our city safe.
“After a period when our under-resourced and overstretched officers have had to cope with the terrorist attacks and other horrific events on top of their day-to-day duties keeping London safe, I am glad we are able to make this additional payment in recognition of their ongoing efforts to protect us.
“I’ve been clear that attacks on officers who put their lives on the line to protect Londoners and visitors are entirely unacceptable.
“It’s vital the Commissioner is able to ensure the police have the equipment they need to do their jobs, although of course it must always be used in a proportionate and transparent way.”
Speaking about the decision to allow frontline officers to have spit guards, Ken Marsh, Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation said:
“The rolling out of Spit Guards to all officers in the MPS is great news for colleagues in London – and Metropolitan Police Officers will appreciate having access to this vital piece of kit when they carry out their difficult role.
“Being spat at is abhorrent and we know it’s sadly happening too often to our colleagues in London, so the force’s decision over this piece of Personal Protective Equipment is a real positive and we appreciate that they have listened to our compelling argument.
“Officers protecting the people of London should not be subject to this sort of disgusting assault when they are carrying out their duty. Three police officers a day are being spat at in London – and thanks to this positive decision from the MPS we hope that fewer will be.
“We were asked to get the evidence on Spit Guards. We did. And our members will now be better off for this.”
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Ok firstly well done and about time the met police have enough of a hard time without some infected druggie spiting at them so spot hoods should have been issued years ago.
Secondly a nice gesture from the top brass to give a recognition bonus(taxed of course) of £350
Thirdly if the force had budgeted for a higher pay rise than was eventually agreed then why did they not offer and pay the higher wages in the first place??? Now you have officers thinking the Bonus is just wages they should have had in the first place and not really a bonus????