newest threat on the street -- AIDS.

Deputy Commissioner Mr. Alex Forbes confirmed yesterday that Police were using a special code when dealing with violent people suspected of having AIDS or the HIV virus.

Although officers are far more educated now about the deadly disease than they were five years ago, Mr. Forbes told The Royal Gazette : "This is purely a protective device for Police officers who are dealing with violent people''.

He said the code was first introduced in October, 1990, at the request of officers.

"I think it's been proven statistically that Police are not in the high-risk category for contracting the disease in the line of duty compared to health care workers,'' Mr. Forbes said. "But convincing Police officers that that percentage is correct is a task.'' The Force has also had an AIDS policy in place since the mid 1980s and has extensively educated officers about AIDS since the late 1980s.

"But,'' Mr. Forbes added, "I think we would be remiss in our duty as senior officers if we did not protect officers.'' Police are not officially informed about people who are infected or have full blown AIDS.

"Sometimes AIDS carriers will tell us they have AIDS,'' Mr. Forbes said.

"Sometimes they will tell us to threaten us.'' Such an incident occurred in June, 1991.

An HIV-infected man, who was arrested for unruly behaviour, screamed that he had AIDS then lunged at the arresting officer, biting him on his arm. The man also spat in the officer's face.

The bite broke the officer's skin and drew blood.

But subsequent blood tests showed the officer was HIV negative and a senior doctor said the chances of the killer virus being passed on was very thin.

At the unprecedented Supreme Court case, in which the infected man was sentenced to three years in prison, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital's senior pathologist Dr. Keith Cunningham said HIV had been demonstrated in virtually every body fluid, including blood, blood plasma, semen, joint fluid, peritoneal fluid, saliva, breast secretion, and gland secretions.

But, he said, the concentration was highest in blood and semen -- and he had no knowledge of another fluid being implicated in the transmission of the infection by a single inoculation.

"It is concluded, therefore, that on the basis of the size of the dose of infective material the possibility of infection by a single inoculation with saliva is extremely remote,'' Dr. Cunningham said. "And my search of medical literature has not revealed a documented instance of HIV infection acquired via a bite from an infected individual.'' However, he admitted that medical research into AIDS was at a very early stage, and he could never use the word "never''.

The Chief Justice, the Hon. Mr. Austin Ward said he viewed the intention of the accused man's action with the "utmost gravity''.

"A simple ordinary bite would hardly lead to a custodial sentence,'' he said, "but a bite with the intention of inflicting the victim with the HIV virus, even though such a probability is extremely remote, demands a custodial sentence.'' The Chief Justice, then a Puisne Judge, sentenced the man to one year in prison for the bite and two years for aggravating features, including mental anguish inflicted on the officer.

Police, like most health care workers, are now required to use precaution -- such as wearing surgical gloves -- when dealing with bodily fluids.

The special code, which can not be revealed for security reasons, is an added protection, Mr. Forbes stressed.

He said the code, like all Police codes, also allows Police to communicate with brevity, accuracy, and clarity.

And, Mr. Forbes added, it also helps officers to avoid as much as possible confrontational situations.

Despite the 1991 incident, he said the AIDS policy and code appeared to be working.

"We've learned to live with it (AIDS),'' Mr. Forbes added, "but the caution -- as it should be -- is still there.''