The City of London police has authorised front-line officers to use controversial spit guards during the detention of violent suspects.
The decision puts the force at odds with the Met, which has refused to allow officers to put the mesh hoods on suspects, except in custody suites.
City officers will also be able to use leg restraints to control violent suspects, the force announced. The move comes after Met Commissioner Cressida Dick ruled out the use of spit guards by front-line officers amid fears they could escalate tensions on the street.
Now senior Met chiefs are understood to be examining alternative measures such as a “snood”, which only covers the lower half of the face, equipment now being used by Leicestershire Police.
City Chief Superintendent Glenn Maleary said: “The safety and security of our police officers is a priority for the City of London Police, and we firmly believe that officers should have the necessary and appropriate equipment to do their jobs.
“We have closely monitored the feedback of our officers in conjunction with the City of London Police Federation and have, as a result, authorised the use of spit guards and leg restraints for all operational officers.
“The purpose of issuing limb restraints and guards against spitting is so that our officers are able to apply the minimum force when having to protect themselves during the detention of violent suspects.”
He said the use of the guards would be closely monitored. The guards, used by 37 forces in England and Wales, have been criticised by human rights groups including Amnesty International, which called them “a cruel and dangerous form of restraint”.
A Liberty spokesman said: “Police officers deserve the same protection from harm as the rest of us. But there is no credible case for the routine use of spit hoods, which degrade the person, are linked to deaths in custody, and have no place in any ‘minimum force’ approach to policing.”
British Transport Police are currently permitted to use spit hoods in arrests on London’s streets.
