LANCASHIRE Police has defended its controversial use of spit hoods amid criticism from a human rights charity.

Lancashire is one of 30 forces which use the hoods when a person threatens to spit, has attempted to spit or has already spat. It started using them last year.

And the force said the hoods are crucial in protecting their frontline officers from spit and bite attacks.

But Rosalind Comyn, policy officer at Liberty, said the hoods should be banned as their use can be ‘distressing, degrading and potentially lethal’.

In a blog Ms Comyn wrote: “Spit hoods impair officers’ ability to identify medical conditions and notice distress or pain. Moreover, they are designed to block spit, vomit, blood or other substances escaping them. So when a wearer discharges a substance into the hood, the breathability of the fabric dramatically drops and the risk of suffocation rises.

“There have been a number of examples of deaths in police custody in circumstances in which spit hoods, or improvised spit hoods, have been used.

“Being hooded by the police is traumatic, and using spit hoods against vulnerable groups is particularly disturbing.”

Requesting a meeting with Ms Comyn to explain the criteria and safeguards the force uses when deploying spit hoods, deputy chief constable Sunita Gamblin said had personal experience of being spat at while on duty.

DCC Gamblin Tweeted: “Having been spat at both as a custody sergeant and on football match duties I’d like to explain reasons for police use of spit hoods / bite guards. Used fairly and justly the use is appropriate.”

A force spokesman said: “We fully support the provision of spit and bite guards for our frontline officers.

“Unfortunately officers across the UK are bitten or spat at too frequently carrying out their duties and this horrible form of assault is very distressing for them.

“They put themselves on the frontline daily to protect the public and as a police force we have a legal and moral duty to protect them against any reasonably foreseeable risk. The guards will not be used as a matter of routine on every arrested person and officers will have to justify that their use is necessary and proportionate in each case.”

Made from a loose-fitting lightweight mesh, spit hoods are placed over a person’s head to help minimise the risks of communicable diseases and injuries associated with spitting and biting.