Police in Mansfield 'coughed' at by man claiming to have coronavirus

Nottinghamshire Police were called to Wood Street in Mansfield at around 9.30pm after they received reports that a man was attempting to break the window of a car.

A 36-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

The man then allegedly coughed in the face of an officer and claimed to have coronavirus.

He was subsequently arrested by police on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.

Chief Inspector Chris Sullivan, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Coughing and spitting at emergency workers is totally unacceptable.

"In light of the pandemic, it is particularly abhorrent to think that anyone would do such but sadly, we have seen a number of incidents of this type.

"We thoroughly investigate all incidents where emergency workers have alleged to have been assaulted and will take appropriate action against those who are found to have committed such offences.

“A man remains in custody in connection with last night’s incident and we are now working hard to establish the circumstances.”

Nottinghamshire Police released a joint video alongside other local key workers including doctors, nurses, fire crews, teachers and ambulance earlier this year, condemning the violence and attacks staff are subjected to while doing their jobs.

The video appears to have prompted a number of offences where people were deliberately spitting and coughing on key workers claiming to be infected with Covid-19 at the height of the pandemic.

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