VILE behaviour such as deliberately coughing or spitting at officers will not be tolerated, a police inspector has warned.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said during the Welsh Government's daily briefing on Monday how he was very concerned to see reports of police officers being "generally assaulted" while they maintained and enforces coronavirus regulations.

This also included officers being coughed on and spat at, he said, adding: "Let me be clear. This is simply and absolutely unacceptable.

"Our police forces are working hard. They are balancing the normal policing demands with the enforcement of the coronavirus regulations and I really want to thank them for their continued support and dedication."

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones confirmed there has been "a number of examples" of people coughing and spitting in the faces of North Wales Police officers.

The Leader:

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones

He labelled the behaviour "vile" and warned it puts frontline staff at risk with potentially "fatal consequences."

Wrexham Inspector Victor Powell told the Leader: "We have had some isolated incidents.

"It's a handful over the last two-and-a-bit months but it carries with it massive health risks.

"If someone becomes infected with who knows what, tests don't show up anything quickly so they have to sit with the unknown and it it worrying.

"And if they have a young family or are caring for elderly people, there is a chance that they are taking whatever it is into their home and exposing others.

"Nobody would tolerate the NHS being spat at, or the fire service - we won't tolerate police being spat at or coughed on. "It is unacceptable and anyone who does do that to any officers across north Wales in any shape or format will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law."

Insp Powell said officers affected in such incidents do receive good support from the North Wales Police Federation, which he described as very proactive.

Arfon Jones said: “Unfortunately, we have had a number of examples of people spitting or coughing in the faces of officers in North Wales.

“One of the worst was a case involving a woman who spat in the faces of two police officers in Holywell.

“It happened after the officers were called to deal with a disturbance involving a man and a woman at a kebab shop in the town.

“After the man was detained the woman became aggressive with both officers and spat in their faces.

“She was charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker under Section 5 of the Public Order Act.

“At Mold Magistrates Court she received a 26-week prison sentence which was suspended for 12 months and she was ordered to pay £150 in compensation together with a Victim Surcharge of £128.

“The sentence was criticised by the Police Federation for being unduly lenient and it is unfortunate the magistrates did not take the opportunity to send a message out.

“The Sentencing Council for England and Wales, which produces guidelines on sentencing for the judiciary and criminal justice professionals, go by the seriousness of the offence and not by the evidence and there is nothing more serious than breaking the law to spread a deadly virus.

“This vile behaviour by a minority of offenders are putting these brave frontline staff at risk of contracting this awful virus, with potentially fatal consequences.”