TWO people have been arrested and charged with alleged coronavirus-related offences in West Dunbartonshire.

One woman allegedly coughed in the face of a police officer and, in a separate case, a man reportedly claimed to have Covid-19 in a bid to prevent his arrest.

Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie branded this type of alleged attack as “shocking”.

She added: “They are on the frontline doing everything they can to keep us safe at this difficult and uncertain time. This attack not only threatened the safety of those officers, but their families and the wider public too.

“Anti-social behaviour like this at an unprecedented time of national crisis only diverts vital resources away from where they are most effective.

“I know many people in Dumbarton will join me in condemning this disgraceful attack on the police and praising them and our other vital emergency services for the work that they are doing to protect us all.”

The large majority of people have been playing their part in helping to stop the spread of the coronavirus while the nation is on lockdown.

But on March 23, at 5.30pm, a 37-year-old woman was arrested after she was reportedly drunk while in charge of a child under the age of 10.

She allegedly started shouting, swearing and making abusive comments to cops on Dumbarton’s High Street. She was taken to Clydebank police station where she reportedly coughed on an officer.

The woman will appear in court charged with being under the influence whilst in charge of a child, breach of the peace, and culpable and reckless conduct amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, a 32-year-old man allegedly pretended to have Covid-19 in order to prevent him from being arrested for another matter.

Police officers attended at a property in Second Avenue, Clydebank, at 2.30pm last Friday, March 27.

After the man reportedly stated he had Covid-19 symptoms, other trained officers were asked to attend.

Arrangements were made to convey the man to a police station, but he then told officers he did not have symptoms of the condition.

The man is the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal for allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice.

David Hamilton, chair of the Scottish Police Federation, hit out at the “sickening” behaviour against cops.

He said: “Police officers are now joining health professionals on the frontline of this crisis as we try to keep people safe.

“It is sickening then that people resort to this kind of behaviour against those that are trying to protect society.

“This reckless conduct threatens the safety of not just those officers, but their families too.

“Anyone found to be trying to deliberately spread this deadly virus needs to be punished severely and a clear message sent out that society will not tolerate such attacks on its police officers.”