Officer left 'shaken' after being sprayed on the face with HIV positive blood

The PSNI called attacks on officers "disgraceful" and "disgusting"

A police officer, from Armagh, has described being sprayed on the face with blood that was HIV positive as "very stressful".

The officer was attending to a detained patient in Craigavon Area Hospital in August when he "began shouting and started to get irate".

She said he "ripped his cannula out of his hand with some force which caused it to fling round the room and spray myself and another constable with blood. This blood got into my eye and mouth."

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said this is one of 2,630 assaults on officers from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025.

The officer said the incident caused her "great concern".

"We had to be treated by the hospital immediately with an eye wash and blood samples taken," she said.

"I went the next day to the Royal Victoria Hospital for a course of medication for the following 28 days. This medication was three tablets a day for the duration and made me feel very unwell so I was absent from work for a period of time."

"I have had to get bloods from Occupational Health and Wellbeing Department base line, a further one at six weeks and 12 weeks will also be required," she continued.

"This incident was very stressful as I am anxiously waiting on the results. It has left me [feeling] very shaken and I do wonder if being subjected to this type of assault is worth all my efforts to keep our communities safe."

'Shocking'

The PSNI is introducing a dash-cam pilot scheme to deter attacks like car ramming

Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said this is just one of the many "shocking and disgusting attacks" on officers.

During the same time period, police said there were more than 100 reported incidents of police vehicles being rammed.

In 2025 the cost of repairing the damaged vehicles was about £140,000.

DCC Singleton said, in ramming instances "offenders are, in essence, using their vehicle as a weapon against us, and this is a scary and traumatising experience for any police officer to go through".

The PSNI is introducing a dash-cam pilot scheme in the south area next month, "with the aim of deterring ramming incidents, keeping officers safe and importantly enhance criminal justice outcomes when offenders weaponize vehicles against us," they said in a statement.

'I had nightmares'

In a separate incident in January 2023, a policing team officer from Armagh, was subjected to a sexual assault while on duty.

The PSNI said a man "kept rubbing his face into the officer's chest" during an arrest.

The officer said: "During the arrest the male became verbally abusive, threatening to cut my throat and saying he was trying to 'abuse me'.

"He kissed my hand and placed his face into my chest and when I pushed him away, he leaned forward and placed his face on my chest again and nuzzled my chest with his face before I pushed him off again.

"He then kicked me in the knee quite hard which resulted in a bruise and an injury to my tibial plateau (bone below knee)."

She said: "For weeks I really struggled in my home life, I had nightmares and struggled with sleeping. I was referred to a psychologist where I was tested for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and did receive therapy."

The man was convicted of sexual assault and received a custodial sentence and was also subjected to a Sexual Offenders' Prevention Order for seven years.

'Disgusting'

Elaine McCormill, from the Police Federation, says officers have been left with "wide-ranging" injuries after attacks

The PSNI called attacks on officers "disgraceful" and "disgusting".

In a statement, they said: "It should never be accepted as 'part of the job' for anyone to be punched, kicked or spat at.

"Police officers come to work knowing that it's a tough calling but they should expect to be able to do their duties without fear of attack."

Elaine McCormill, from the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, said: "Every year, we have hundreds of officers who are the victims of assault.

"Injuries are wide-ranging, but the bottom line is it is not part of the job and those who engage in such reprehensible behaviour against officers need to face punitive deterrent penalties through our courts."