POLICE officers always had a tough balance to strike between enforcing lockdown and avoiding accusations of being overly draconian or taking away our precious liberties.

Officers in West Mercia Police appear to have struck that balance well, imposing fines against the most persistent offenders and giving sage, firm advice to others. It is deeply troubling that police officers, including in Worcester, have been spat at by people claiming to have coronavirus. This is vile and disgusting behaviour which contrasts with the courage of those they attack.

It is refreshing to see people found guilty of these despicable attacks receiving immediate jail sentences in other parts of the country. Police perform a difficult, challenging job, exposed to risks many of us have never experienced. The last thing they they need is for Covid-19 to be used as a weapon against them. Chief inspector Gareth Morgan has been gracious in thanking the vast majority who have abided by the lockdown restrictions. But he and his colleagues are right to come down hard on those who attack frontline officers in this awful way.