25 February 2021

Police officers react with shock and anger that prisoners will be vaccinated before police

Police officers have reacted with shock, fury and disbelief to reports that prisoners will receive a vaccine against the deadly Covid-19 virus, ahead of those working in policing.

This could see a bizarre situation where a criminal who is jailed for coughing or spitting at a police officer - threatening to infect them with Covid-19 - will get a vaccine for the virus before the police officer they attacked.

According to the most recent Crown Prosecution Service data, assaults on emergency workers were 'most common coronavirus-related crime' between 1 April and 30 September 2020 with 1,688 offences charged.

Many of these involved police officers being coughed and spat on.

However according to a report in today’s Times newspaper, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has said teachers, police and other key workers should not get priority for Covid jabs.

But that prisoners can be vaccinated en masse.

Anna Harvey, Chair of Dorset Police Federation, said: “I am stunned at the latest news that convicted criminals will receive the Covid-19 vaccine, before our members.

“Officers across the country have been assaulted, hospitalised and have sadly lost their lives during the pandemic and now we have a situation whereby someone who has been convicted of offences against our colleagues will actually receive the vaccine before them.

“It’s such an injustice and betrayal by the JCVI and the Government.

“This will have a massive impact on morale at a time when we need to show our officers support and praise for all they have achieved over the last 12 months.”

Anna added: “I know that members of the public feel the same - they can’t understand this decision. The Government has relied on key workers to keep the country going and they now that are being treated as second class citizens. What message does this send out to the many people considering a career in Policing?”

Earlier in February, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told police officers they will have to wait their turn to receive the Covid-19 vaccine - and that they will not be prioritised.

Despite lobbying from the Police Federation, Chief Police Officers, the Met Commissioner and the College of Policing over police officers needing to have a level of priority for the vaccine to keep themselves, their families and the public safe, Mr Hancock said officers will not be prioritised until after groups 1-9, as deemed by the JCVI.

So, they will not be eligible for the vaccine until after the first 32 million people in the country have received it. And that is likely to be May. Officers who fall into the first 9 groups – via age or with underlying health conditions – will receive the vaccine that way.