Hampshire Police chief: 'no decent answer to give officers' over covid jab
Olivia Pinkney shares her frustration on twitter
The head of Hampshire Police says she still can't provide her officers with a decent answer over why they haven't been prioritised for the covid vaccine.
Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney says over the past 12 months she has spoken to every officer who has been spat at or bitten.
She took to twitter early on Friday to express her frustration at having to explain why they hadn't received protection despite what she described as a "brilliant UK vaccine roll out".
At the end of last month Health Secretary Matt Hancock said vaccinating people based on their age and not their profession is "the moral thing to do".
The government has announced people aged 40-49 will be the next in line to get a coronavirus vaccine after all vulnerable groups and the over-50s are covered.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said this plan would provide "the greatest benefit in the shortest time".
Speaking at the time, John Apter, the national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, and a serving Hampshire officer said.
"There's real palpable anger from all levels within policing about how we have been completely disregarded and ignored in this phase.
"What is expected of policing does put them at risk. It does put them at risk of transmitting this virus.
"They're being spat at, coughed at, rolling around on the ground with people, working in hospital environments, going into people's homes. They can't mitigate the risk of the virus.
"All of that means absolutely nothing. This is a very deep and damaging betrayal and it will not be forgotten."