Covid jabs for officers: Government accused of dereliction of duty

9 February 2021

The Government has been accused of a dereliction of duty after failing to prioritise police officers in the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The accusation is made in an open letter signed by all 43 branches of the Police Federation of England and Wales and the national Federation chair which also points out that police officers feel betrayed by a lack of action from the Governments of England and Wales to protect them from exposure to the virus.

It comes after health secretary Matt Hancock yesterday evening revealed that police officers would only be considered for prioritisation for the jab once groups one to nine as set out by the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) had been vaccinated. This would mean officers would be called for a vaccine according to their age group.

“It is very unusual for all 43 branches and the Police Federation nationally to send an open letter to the Governments in Westminster and Cardiff but it is a sign of the strength of feeling over this issue,” says Jon Nott, chair of West Midlands Police Federation.

“Police officers have been on the frontline throughout the pandemic, putting their health at risk – and that of their families – while seeking to serve and protect their families.

“Everyone in policing accepts that the elderly and most vulnerable in our societies need to receive the vaccinations first, along with frontline NHS staff and those working in care homes. All we are asking for is for police officers, and other workers who are also at risk, to be given some priority too.

“By the very nature of policing, police officers cannot always socially distance. They have to get up close to the public at times and they have to go from job to job possibly, but inadvertently, spreading the virus if they come into contact with someone who has it".

“Added to this is the very real danger they are facing due to those who are weaponising Covid by spitting or coughing over officers while claiming to have the virus.”

Jon added: “I really do not understand the Government’s stance on this. Police officers are clearly at risk, not just in terms of their own health but also that of their families, and they are also likely to unknowingly pass on the virus while out and about in their communities.”

The letter, responding to Mr Hancock’s comments at last night’s press briefing, points out: “This is not only unacceptable to our members it is also a dereliction of both Governments’ duty.
It shows that warm words and platitudes mean very little from Government.”

Guidance from the JCVI states that:

Frontline health and social care workers at high risk of acquiring infection, at high individual risk of developing serious disease, or at risk of transmitting infection to multiple vulnerable persons or other staff in a healthcare environment, are considered of higher priority for vaccination than those at lower risk.

The letter continues: “The risks presented to our members show that this guidance applies to them. The nature of policing means our members are not always able to mitigate the risk of contracting and spreading this deadly virus. They often have to get up close and personal in many situations, which means the risk is ever present.

“One in three officers have reported being threatened by somebody claiming to have Covid. The level of incidents of people weaponising the virus – by coughing or spitting at them – has increased considerably during the pandemic. On behalf of Government, police officers are putting their lives on the line every day and run a very real risk of becoming infected and exposing colleagues, family members as well the public.

“This seriously threatens the resilience of the police service if officers are off sick or required to isolate, taking them away from their duties.

"This is not about police officers jumping the queue and never has been. It is about the duty of care that Government has to protect those who protect society. Thanks to the success and speed of the vaccination programme we know it would take less than a day to vaccinate the entire police service in England and Wales if the political will is there to do it.

“Police officers have done everything asked of them during this pandemic. Now it is time for Government to step up and protect those who have been on the frontline throughout this pandemic and continue to do so.”