Lockdown adds unwelcome additional burden to police officers already relentless daily workload

11 January 2021

“Policing during this lockdown will continue to add an unwelcome additional burden to the relentless daily business that continues at pace”

Kent Police Federation Chairman Neil Mennie highlights the challenges policing another lockdown will present a stretched police service.

And why police officers need to be on the priority list for the Covid-19 vaccine.

Neil said: “As we start 2021 we once again find ourselves in a further national lockdown and dealing with a new highly transmittable variant of COVID.

“The public can expect to see our officers taking a precautionary approach and shouldn’t be surprised to see them wearing items such as goggles and aprons as they go about duties that require close contact.

“Policing during this lockdown will continue to add an unwelcome additional burden to the relentless daily business that continues at pace.

“As the next few weeks unfold here in Kent we will also be hoping that the new arrangements for the EU transition will run smoothly and safely for both Kent and our welcome visiting officers from across the country.

“They will be carefully monitored and tested throughout the operation and systems are in place to help those who have a positive result. So far only a few HGV drivers have sought to circumvent the processes deliberately and have been dealt with.

“The majority have remained patient and professional as they go about the vital business of keeping us supplied with much of what we need.

“In common with everybody else, Police Officers have families and will be doing their best to make arrangements to look after them in the best way possible and continue to come to work to perform their duties.

“There will be many views about who should get the vaccine and when, prioritising the NHS and those most vulnerable is entirely reasonable. Policing however has always come with significant risk and this epidemic once again has shown that this job requires close interaction with the public at many levels.

“There isn’t a choice – it’s quite simply what officers do every day when responding to calls for service and intervening in situations where close contact is inevitable. It follows that we must be amongst the first in the queue for vaccination so that we can continue to provide a decent level of service and stay at work.

“The last thing any of our colleagues want is to cause illness amongst others at work and I know this causes them to feel a great deal of guilt, especially if it leaves teams short of numbers.

“It’s very hard when you can’t see this enemy and despite your best efforts you may pick up this virus and take it home to family as well.

“Kent Police continues to do well with its absence rate, but it is creeping up and the only way out ultimately is vaccination. The situation that our NHS colleagues and local hospitals currently find themselves in is of huge concern and inevitably will have a knock on effect to policing. We wish them all well and recognise the mammoth tasks they are facing.

“The 4E approach - engaging, explaining, encouraging and only enforcing as a last resort - remains the most sensible way to police this lockdown and dealing with only the more repeat and blatant disregarders of the rules.

“People will make the odd mistake and some confusion will arise around the rules and legislation that is not intentional, and this is why the policing style is correct.

“Along with everybody else we hope to see an end to this but it seems we will all have to be patient for a good deal longer.”