Calls for police in North Wales to be given bite-proof clothing after PC left scarred by attacks

Calls have been made for police in North Wales to be given bite-proof clothing after an officer revealed how attacks by offenders have left him scarred.

PC Gary Sinfield said he’d been bitten three times in the last four years, resulting in scarring to his right hand and left arm.

He wants bite resistant clothing to be made to protect officers in the region in dangerous situation.

PC Sinfield highlighted how such incidents have become more frequent and described the most recent assault as the worst he has ever experienced.

Writing in the North Wales Police Federation’s Your Voice magazine, he said: “While doing a misper (missing person) address check early in the morning, a drunk female walked by, seemingly in a bit of state.

“I asked if she was alright and if she needed any help. She then turned on me and tried to fight me.

“I had to spray her and while I was restraining her on the floor and getting the cuffs on her she turned and bit me on the forearm.

“The other bites I’ve received were almost like puppy bites. They tend to stop when they meet the skin but you still end up with a scratch or cut that needs to be looked at.

“But this time it was like a badger, biting harder and harder into my arm for a few seconds before she let go.”

Fortunately the incident was caught on PC Sinfield’s body worn video camera.

He said he was also lucky to be wearing a double lined jacket rather than normal issue clothing due to the extra protection provided.

Recalling how it sparked his idea for officers to have more robust clothing, he said: “This 100 per cent stopped her biting a chunk of flesh from my arm judging by the force she used.

“I was still left with a swollen bruise and damage to my skin that has scarred but if I was wearing a long sleeved ops top or one of the currently issued fleeces they wouldn’t have given me any protection.

“The following morning it got me thinking. Can you buy bite-proof clothing?

“Well, yes you can, right off the internet. It took me less than a minute to find a UK supplier of lightweight woven Kevlar clothing.

“This material is bite-proof to the same level as my old coat, fire retardant and slash-proof from blades etc.”

PC Sinfield pointed out figures which show that in 2016/2017 the Metropolitan Police recorded 215 human bites, which amounts to around four a week.

In the same year, British Transport Police recorded 54, an average of one officer each week being bitten.

He suggested the statistics would likely be the same for most police forces and questioned why better protection wasn’t being provided.

He said: “Why are we not wearing this material? In terms of the simple uniform worn day to day, response officers are going out into unknown, potentially extremely dangerous situations, in items which you might wear to walk up Snowdon.

“Of course, there is the issue of money; there always is. In my experience, it’s often an excuse used in the first instance to stop something dead in its tracks.

“But, if something needs doing then the money is found, that’s why every officer now has body armour and more and more have taser.

“Policing is dangerous and resources are put into several specialist teams but I feel the humble response cop is forgotten.

“Nine times out of ten they are the first on the ground, first to attend, first to deal with the unknown, wearing a t-shirt and a pair of cargo pants.”

He later added: “We know the medical implications of bites, first aid, jabs, anti-virial medications and surgery at the very worse end of the scale, and that’s not to mention the possible mental health fall-out out from a severe assault.

“I am not ashamed to admit I have sought welfare support after my assault.”