NT Police Association President Nathan Finn backs spit guards in meeting with Lia Finocchiaro
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has been reminded of her pre-election promises, with NT Police Association president Nathan Finn reiterating the cop community’s demand for a ban on spit guards to be lifted.
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Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has been reminded of her pre-election promises, with NT Police Association president Nathan Finn urging the new leader to bring back spit guards as a “priority”, arguing the safety of officers was at-risk.
The plea follows Ms Finocchiaro’s pledge to empower police, which includes reintroducing controversial spit hoods.
However, spit guards – not spit hoods – is the device Mr Finn wants his members to have greater access to.
Made of lightweight, mesh-like material, spit guards have a reinforced section around the jawline which prevents a potential offender from spitting or biting.
After a procedural ban was placed on spit guards in October, 2022, police officers have been restricted in their ability to use the device, denying officers from using the controversial measure on offending youths in watch house environments.
For almost two years, the NTPA has advocated for the ban to be lifted, and, additionally, has pushed for spit guard powers to be extended beyond custody facilities, with the approval of an officer-in-command.
Mr Finn said the device was safe and should be in service.
“The product used by NT Police is medically certified, was developed in conjunction with UK Police, and is approved by the MET Police Medical Director for use across the United Kingdom,” he told the NT News.
“The return of spit guards should be a priority, as preventing any spitting-related assault on police provides sufficient justification for their use.”
In a 45 minute discussion with Ms Finocchiaro last Monday, Mr Finn told the Chief Minister the NTPA’s position on spit guards was unchanged.
“I discussed all the priorities outlined in the NTPA’s pre-election submission with the Chief Minister-elect,” Mr Finn said.
Ms Finocchiaro told the NT News she would not reveal the details discussed in the private meeting, but maintained her party would back frontline workers over offenders.
“When you look at the rights of frontline workers, like corrections officers and police to be safe, versus the right of an offender to spit in their face, we have to be backing in our hardworking frontline workers,” she said.
Fears of being spat on remain widespread within the force, Mr Finn said, with the danger of contracting disease well known across the nation.
Perhaps the most notable example of a cop being spat on is the horrific experience of South Australian officer Alison Coad, who contracted communicable diseases after copping a face full of phlegm in 2003.
Following the attack, the female offender taunted the officer, yelling “Sucked in, I’ve got AIDS, hep C and herpes and you’ll get them, too.”
In the nine months to 31 March, 2024, there were 299 ‘assault police’ offences, with 56 of those occasions involving officers being spat on or having blood smeared on them.
Mr Finn said officers preferred to be “punched in the face”.
“Frontline police officers will tell you that being spat on is one of the most disgusting and disrespectful acts that can be perpetrated against them,” he said.
“It is often deliberate and designed to humiliate.”
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