Police Federation calls for officers to move up vaccine priority list
An open letter to the Government's been signed by Wiltshire and Hampshire's branches
Last updated 10th Feb 2021
Police Federations across the country, which represent rank and file officers on the frontline, are accusing the Government of 'snubbing' their colleagues.
They're calling for police staff to be pushed up the priority list for a Covid-19 vaccination, due to the regular contact they have to have with the public.
At the moment, Health Secretary Matt Hancock says officers will have to wait their turn.
Zoe Wakefield, chair of Hampshire's Police Federation says that's a difficult decision to hear:
"It sounds like the Government don't care, or don't understand policing, I don't know which one it is, but we're just being forgotten about. A lot of the risks that the health service have, we have some similar risks. (The Government) wants us to be out there enforcing the rules that (they're) putting in place, and we're doing that, but we also want to be protected."
The Government says police officers will be called for jabs when it's their turn, after the priority groups 1 to 9 have been given their first doses.
That's prompted Police Federation chairs across England and Wales to write an open letter urging a change of heart.
Among the signatories is Mark Andrews, the chair of Wiltshire's Police Federation.
Zoe Wakefield from Hampshire's branch is worried officers will become super spreaders of the virus:
"We'll end up then with multiple officers having to self-isolate and then who's going to protect the public? Many officers have contracted Covid as a result of their job, we've had police officers that have died, and officers are still being spat at from people with Covid. We need some protection."
The letter to Government says that members of Police Federations feel 'betrayed by the lack of action' by Government.
It also states that 'this is not about police officers jumping the queue' but instead about a 'duty of care'.
It ends by saying:
"Police officers have done everything asked of them, now it is time for the Government to step up and protect those who have been on the frontline throughout this pandemic. Anything less would be a deep betrayal and will not be forgiven or forgotten."