THE police and crime commissioner for the Isle of Wight has slammed the decision to not award compensation to a police officer spat at during an incident last year.

Back in July, 2021, Luke Henderson admitted assaulting a police officer, by beating, while he was acting in the exercise of his duties, in Petersfield, Hampshire.

The court heard the Ryde man deliberately spat at the police officer, who went to his aid during the pandemic.

When sentencing Henderson, presiding magistrate, Janice Routledge, told him there was no compensation to pay.

She said: "Although you caused the officer distress, it is part and parcel of the job, to an extent."

Commissioner, Donna Jones, says it is an outrage that the victim did not receive compensation, and officers should not be subjected to such vile behaviour while trying to protect the public.

She said: “I was a JP for 16 years, and in that time I always took assaults on police officers seriously, especially those where they were spat at.

“It really is disgusting. Although it didn’t happen on this occasion, if spittle goes into someone’s mouth, the officer has to undergo extensive tests and in some cases take precautionary medication to avoid diseases manifesting.

“It is an outrage that the officer did not receive compensation, with the magistrate suggesting this is all part of the job.

“It is not, and police officers should not be subjected to this vile behaviour while they are trying to protect the public.”