Concerns over use of 'potentially fatal' spit hoods on children

The Children's Rights Alliance for England (Crae) said spit hoods, which are designed to prevent people spitting at police officers when they have been taken into custody, were used on at least 24 children in England in the first nine months of 2016.

This is double the tally for 2015 and Crae believes the true scale of their use on under-18s could be even higher.

The charity is also concerned that children who are made to wear spit hoods are often the most vulnerable in society, who have experience of abuse or have learning or communication difficulties.

"Hooding children is distressing and dangerous," a Crae spokeswoman said.  

"The evidence shows that the children who are in contact with the police are disproportionately likely to have experienced neglect, abuse, been in care, have language or learning difficulties or other vulnerabilities. 

"Putting these children through more trauma by restraining and hooding them is not only damaging but potentially unsafe. Adults have died following the use of spit hoods. Alternatives such as visors or spit guards worn by police officers are used in other forces in England to deal with disgusting incidents of spitting."