THE Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) says they “fully support” the use of spit hoods in the ACT, following a recent incident which saw police use one to restrain a 16-year-old girl.

ACT Police used the spit hood on the teen who became violent with officers after being arrested, Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan revealed in estimates hearings yesterday (August 29).

The girl allegedly refused to surrender alcohol, before biting the inside of her mouth and spitting blood at the arresting officers.

The use of the spit hood has raised concerns from the ACT Greens, who described the equipment as “degrading devices that restrict breathing.”

Change the Record Executive Officer Sophie Trevitt has also come out in opposition of their use, saying it “beggars belief why spit hoods would still be in use in a so-called human rights jurisdiction like the ACT.”

AFPA President Alex Caruana said there was often no practical alternative to using spit hoods and that they must not be banned as it would place officers at unnecessary risk.

“Spit hoods are used to prevent AFPA members from being exposed to transmissible diseases, many of which can have an ongoing and harmful impact on a member’s health,” said Caruana.

“If they are going to ban spit hoods, then they must implement mandatory blood and saliva testing for all violent offenders, if not everyone who is arrested.

“The AFP has very clear work health and safety obligations to all of its appointees, and keeping spit hoods on the table as a last resort is a safe, reasonable and measured way of meeting these obligations.”

Caruana says biting the inside of one’s mouth and then spitting the resultant blood at arresting officers is not something which can be precluded with handcuffs.

“The only realistic way this can be prevented is by placing a prophylactic barrier between the arrested person and the arresting officers.”

“Any such barrier must be safe for all persons involved in its use, be able to be secured and not able to be removed by the offender, be durable, hygienic and reusable, and meet a minimum manufacturing standard.

“Spit hoods, when used correctly by trained police officers, meet all of these requirements.”

The AFPA are advising any members who were spat on to consider charging the offender with assaulting frontline emergency workers.

In addition, Caruana will be seeking amendments to the existing legislation so that if an offender is aware they have a communicable disease, they would then be charged with an aggravated offence and face harsher penalties.