New figures reveal that Nottinghamshire Police has now investigated 89 reports of assaults on key workers who were all targeted as they joined the nationwide response to the Coronavirus outbreak.
The news comes after the force previously announced that it had investigated 61 incidents of key workers being coughed on or spat at during the first few weeks of lockdown measures being introduced between Friday 20 March and Monday 27 April.
Further figures released today by Nottinghamshire Police have now revealed that the force has investigated over 89 incidents in total, after a further 28 similar assaults were reported up to Monday 18 May.
The most recent incidents – which have been described as ‘abhorrent’ by the county’s highest-ranking police officer – include assaults on police officers, Community Protection Officers, care workers and paramedics who were all targeted while carrying out their essential work.
Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford said: “The vast majority of the public are pulling together and doing everything they can to support the national efforts to control the spread of the Coronavirus.
“Each and every day, the county’s key workers are putting themselves at risk to help keep the public safe and I – along with the vast majority of the county we serve – cannot be more thankful of their efforts.”
“I find it abhorrent that anyone would ever think to spit or cough at an emergency worker and my message to those essential workers is clear that Nottinghamshire Police, their fellow keyworkers and the vast majority of the county are right behind them as we continue our work to defeat the virus together.”
