Police officer infected with coronavirus shares safety fears over PPE

Officer who contracted Covid-19 worried ‘flimsy mask and gloves’ not enough when dealing with members of the public failing to follow lockdown rules

The officer said she was worried about contact with the public (File photo) (Getty Images)

A London police officer who fell ill with coronavirus fears colleagues are being forced to face unnecessary risks when dealing with members of the public, according to a Liberal Democrat councillor.

Rabina Khan, a councillor in the east London borough of Tower Hamlets, said she had spoken to a police officer who tested positive for Covid-19 a few weeks ago after developing symptoms of the virus.

The unnamed female officer said she and her colleagues had been limited to “a flimsy mask and gloves”, despite being sent out to issue warnings and fines to people not following lockdown rules.

“My daughter’s friend works in a borough that has a high death rate where you would think people would be more vigilant, and yet she spent huge amounts of her time at work issuing fines for people not adhering to social gathering rules,” the Liberal Democrat councillor wrote in an article for The Independent.

“She and her colleagues were travelling together, huddled closely in a police van, to be dispersed at different locations. Their PPE was limited to a flimsy mask and gloves.”

“It was profoundly sad listening to a young police officer’s concerns about her safety and that of her colleagues. It’s an issue which hasn’t been talked about enough.”

The Police Federation, representing rank-and-file officers, had raised concerns in early April about clashing guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation, warned of a “postcode lottery of safety for police officers” in different forces across England and Wales – blaming “mixed messages” from Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

It prompted the National Police Chiefs’ Council to issue new guidance for forces across England and Wales on 9 April, based on “interpreting the existing PHE guidance”.

It recommended the wearing of fluid-resistant surgical masks and gloves in situations where there was a possible risk of infection from the public and social distancing was not possible, but not on routine patrol.

The NPCC guidance also said “enhanced” protective equipment of aprons and goggles should also be worn in situations where social distancing of two metres is not possible and the officer is dealing with an individual showing symptoms of Covid-19.

Yet the London police officer who contacted coronavirus told Ms Khan she remained worried that officers were not encouraged to wear aprons and goggles when coming into close contact with members of the public – since they could not always know whether people have symptoms of Covid-19 or not.

Ken Marsh, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said concerns about possible shortages of kit had been addressed by the Metropolitan Police. “There is plenty of PPE there now for officers,” he said.

Mr Marsh added: “The Metropolitan Police advice on wearing the kit is very much the same as the NPCC, so the guidance has been made clear. Officers should have access to aprons and goggles in their vehicles whenever they need them.”

Caroline Pidgeon MBE, a Lib Dem member of the London Assembly, said: “Reports of police officers being concerned about levels of PPE is deeply worrying.

“Officers are constantly interacting with the public and they must have the necessary protective equipment. They are not only policing public areas, but many are travelling in groups in police vehicles and entering properties.”