Federation calls for clarity as lockdown is eased

22 February 2021

West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon Nott has urged the Government to provide greater clarity on new coronavirus restrictions when it starts to ease the latest lockdown.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is today (Monday) expected to announce a “roadmap” for easing Covid-19 measures in England.

And Jon said that the messaging from Government must be clear to avoid confusion over new rules as restrictions are lifted.

Jon said: “At times during the pandemic it’s felt like police officers have been stuck between a rock and a hard place with regard to coronavirus restrictions.

“While there will always be a small number of people who seek opportunities to twist the rules to suit them, the vast majority of people have been sensible and helped us to keep people safe and protect the public.

“But on some occasions my colleagues have been put in a difficult position of trying to uphold the law with poor or poorly though through guidance. With so many changes to the rules since the pandemic began, it’s no wonder there’s confusion out there, which is why we’re calling for real clarity from the Government as we enter the next phase.”

Jon’s comments come as new research published by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) showed one in 10 police officers in England and Wales thought the police powers previously introduced to manage the Covid-19 crisis were clear.

The demand, capacity and welfare survey also found only 24 per cent of respondents felt the ‘Four E’s’ (Engage, explain, encourage and enforce) approach was effective when enforcing the new police powers.

National Federation chair John Apter said: “Given the fact there have been more than 60 rule changes introduced during the pandemic, it comes as no surprise whatsoever that only 10 per cent of police officers who responded to our survey said they found the Covid-19 rule changes to be clear.

“We have been saying from the beginning, clear guidance on what people can and can’t do is needed; otherwise people will inadvertently fall foul of the law or may take advantage of the mixed messages. And it’s my colleagues who are on the frontline of these changes, continually playing catch-up to get their heads around the latest information.”

The new report also contains a number of personal testimonies from frontline officers, including those who have contracted Covid-19 while on duty, and those who’ve faced the virus being weaponised against them.

• Almost a third of respondents (32 per cent) reported that a member of the public, believed to be carrying Covid-19, had purposely threatened to breathe or cough on them at least once over the past six months; with nearly a quarter reporting actual attempts at doing so.

• 26 per cent of respondents believed they had already had Covid-19, and

• 45 per cent of these felt they had contracted the virus through work-related activities.

John added: “I suggest the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and Governments of England and Wales read this report very carefully. Then they can attempt to explain to my colleagues on the frontline why, after the most vulnerable have been vaccinated, they should not be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccination.”