Panel of experts advise on risks to police officers during COVID-19 pandemic
Last updated 7th Apr 2020
A panel of experts have come together to look at the ways in which they can keep police officers safe.
The group, which has been set up by the Scottish Police Federation, is made up of scientific and medical experts who can provide advice on the risks police staff may face.
The expert members on the panel include Professor Sir Harry Burns, Professor George Crooks OBE and Professor Hugh Pennington CBE.
The SPF-COVID-19 panel met on video conference for their first meeting on Monday to discuss issues, including access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and social distancing when dealing with the public.
Calum Steele, the Federation’s General Secretary said: "The generic health protection advice promoted by the Government simply does not take account of the realities of police work.
"We need sector specific advice which recognises and reflects the often unpredictable and up close and personal nature of policing, and this panel will help us secure that.
"The panel comprises some of the finest medical and scientific minds in Scotland and as it delivers specific advice to us, we will liaise directly with Police Scotland.
"We cannot continue with a mindset that says if a police officer doesn’t have symptoms then he or she doesn’t have the virus. This is wrong.
"An increasing amount of time is being spent with those in vulnerable categories. Police officers face a risk on a daily basis and we need to rethink about how we police.
"Every police officer is committed to upholding the law and helping the vulnerable but we cannot do that if our own officers are allowed to succumb to the deadly virus."
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