THREE women have been arrested after officers were spat on, coughed at and physically attacked while attending incidents across Somerset overnight.

The incidents took place in Bridgwater and Bath last night (March 28). 

A 26-year-old woman has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker in connection with an incident in which an officer was coughed and spat at.

The incident happened after officers were called to attend reports of a house party in Bridgwater, at just after 7pm last night.

A 36-year-old woman has also been charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker relating to an domestic-related incident in Bridgwater at just before 8pm last night.

The charges relate to physical assaults on two officers.

Both women are due to appear at Taunton Magistrates’ Court next month.

In another incident a 42-year-old woman was charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker following an incident in Peasedown St John, Bath, at just after 7.30pm last night.

One of the charges relates to an officer being spat at.

She’s due to appear at Bath Magistrates’ Court next month.

Chief Supt Carolyn Belafonte said any assault on officers of this nature were particularly abhorrent in light of the public health crisis the country is facing.

She said: “Officers are simply trying to do their job to protect the public and keep our communities safe in these worrying times.

“They do not deserve to be assaulted in any way, particularly being spat on and coughed at. Anyone who does this can expect to be arrested and as we have already seen elsewhere they could face a prison sentence as a result.

“Whenever these incidents happen we put our Seven Point Promise into place to ensure the officers are getting all the support they need and we’re continuing to keep our officers updated on the latest advice from the Government and Public Health England.”