Ds2 tested positive today I am furious

[HazelBite]

For the last 5 years Ds2 has been a Special Constable with the Met, Last weekend they went out in order to arrest a man who had broken his non molestation order (taken out by his ex-partner)
As they went to detain him he laughed and said "you shouldn't touch me I have covid"
Yes all three police who were in attendance have tested positive now, and he only gets a fine for breaking the non-mol order!
And

HazelBite That sucks. 💐to you and your ds.

(Everyone else, please read Tanith's post. There are some bloody weird people on-line, and you have to handle them, and their agendas, with care.)

My older DS works in a care home for older and younger residents and they have now got covid in both staff and residents. Fist time since the start of the pandemic. I can imagine the anxiety and also no sign of the vaccine.

@Oh12lookanothernamechange1234

Police encounter things like this on a daily, if not hourly basis. Spat at and the person has Hep B/C, bitten, assaulted.

Covid is just another thing added into the equation now... it’s rubbish OP- but as police it’s what they have to deal with

It can't be much fun, granted, but that applies to many jobs.

Policing is a long, long way down the list of most dangerous occupations.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_fatality#/media/File:Number_and_rate_of_fatal_occupational_injuries.png

FYI Porrigeoat a Special Constable does the job for free, no pay all because they want to do a public service.

Another one who doesn’t understand the “fury”. Your ds and his colleagues could’ve already had it - seems strange they all caught it detaining a man (how long does this take?) when I know whole families who live together and only 1 or 2 out of 4-5 members of the family tested positive when brought into the home (this includes couples who share a bed).

I wouldn’t ever want one of my dc’s to be in the police force though, I understand how worrying that must be.

Both i and my son are serving officers in different forces. Both of us have been spat at - he tested positive along with two of his colleagues following a violent confrontation , and I’m currently self isolating along with 6 of my colleagues , three of which have tested positive following an arrest where the suspect kicked off . It’s become the go to threat for suspects these days .

As for why didn’t police withdraw - because you can’t , once you’re there . If a suspect needs arresting , he needs arresting . You can’t just say “Hold on a minute while we get someone out in full medical PPE” - the suspect will do a runner , and particularly with domestic arrests , the first place they’ll go to is the victims address . Quite apart from anything else , other than a mask , anything else simply isn’t practical for working police officers . Someone has to get up close to these people, and unfortunately it’s us . You can’t do real policing at two metres distance . Yes it’s shit . It’s why I’d really like us to have access to vaccination .

Why on earth is he volunteering
Has he no self respect

Wow, he is probably volunteering because he would like a career as a police officer. Thank goodness there are still people out there who are willing to do the job.

OP I'm glad your DS and people like him are out there, willing to help make the community a safer place for everyone.
I am sorry that he has caught Covid and wish him a speedy recovery.

@GML107

So as your son went to arrest someone, this person made him aware he had Covid yet your son didn't have adequate PPE, didn't withdraw and ask for adequate PPE to be sent etc and now he's caught Covid

Why on earth are you annoyed at the man who was arrested? He did the right thing and made your son aware of the danger he was in.

I'd be annoyed at the police for providing adequate protection for your son.

I'd be annoyed at your son' foolish behaviour - why on earth is he still volunteering in a life-threatening position when he's aware of the dangers and his employer isn't providing him with the adequate support he needs. Does your son have no self-respect?

Are you just going to ignore the fact the guy shouldn't have been in a position to be arrested as he should have been self isolating if he has Covid.

I think she has every right to be upset/annoyed at the man.

@Robbybobtail

Another one who doesn’t understand the “fury”. Your ds and his colleagues could’ve already had it - seems strange they all caught it detaining a man (how long does this take?) when I know whole families who live together and only 1 or 2 out of 4-5 members of the family tested positive when brought into the home (this includes couples who share a bed).

I wouldn’t ever want one of my dc’s to be in the police force though, I understand how worrying that must be.

i get the impression that she's 'furious' that the guy her DS arrested isn't getting any kind of penalty for breaking covid restrictions.. he should have been self isolating, and we're in lockdown, so there's 2 he ought to be getting charged with.

Everyone who catches Covid has to catch it from someone, we can't criminalise everyone for spreading it, it's the nature of the virus.
No one is safe unless they are completely cocooning and even then there are no guarantees.

@converseandjeans

And yet teachers still think they should be prioritised over police for the vaccine

I don't know any teachers who think this?! Why even mention teachers statistical.

Sorry OP that is awful. It should be a hate crime & in all honesty if one of them gets really ill he needs to be charged with knowingly infecting someone which could potentially lead to serious health problems.

I would guess it was mentioned because there was a previous thread on this, with mixed responses - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4128664-Vaccine-Priority-Teachers-or-Police?pg=1

Obviously the actual reality is that both are risky occupations when it comes to covid. What happened to the op's son could as easily happen to a teacher.

He might have been SI MrsHusky.
Unless non molestation orders have changed, the harassment doesn't have to be in person. Phone calls, texts, emails, SM and even getting other people to do your dirty work are breaches.

I’m a teacher and I don’t know anyone who thinks this. We think we should all get it. And certainly over other groups like NHS admin who have been at home since last March.]

Our admin staff are working flat out, some are currently on the wards helping to wash patients. Others are helping in vaccination centres etc. I know people want to believe there are thousands of NHS admin staff sitting at home, smugly vaccinated. But certainly in my trust, it is few an far between, and the few that are, are at home because they are vulnerable which meant they were top of the list for vaccination in my trust. They are still doing important work and we need them well and working. For the next few weeks, healthcare is the top priority.

Loads of police teams have covid, Sussex were crippled with staff off or isolating at one point. You’ve no way of knowing that this man arrested gave your DS covid. However your DS should take some ownership, at least have a mask in his pocket/on his person.

Furious

Cressida Dick was on LBC yesterday saying that police officers should be vaccinated and I agree. She was saying that she will be vaccinated before her officers because of her age which seems ridiculous.

Key front line workers such as NHS stuff and the police should be vaccinated first. Yes, before older people and vulnerable who are able to isolate and keep safe for the time being, another week or so won't make much difference to them. What would we rather have a few people staying inside for another few weeks or lots of police officers off the streets isolating? Surely it's a no brainer!

canigooutyet- the fact the OP mentions that he's not getting any kind of penalty other than for the one he was initially arrested for, kind of poo-poos that theory to me.

you'd think (if common sense was applied at any point) that if he'd been in his own home, genuinely self isolating, he'd have had a text or email confirming he was positive to show the officers before they even tried to arrest him.

@StatisticalSense I'm a teacher and don't believe this.
Just a stupid thing to say to be honest.

OP- I am so sorry about your son and his colleagues. It is horrible that anyone would lord their Covid positive status over others in such a malevolent way knowing full well they're likely to transmit it to others. I hope your son and his colleagues recover swiftly. Police are doing an amazing job and should absolutely be a priority for the vaccine.

@Cherrysoup

Why furious? My dh arrested someone positive then his colleague he’d been in the car with all well did too. He’s had to self,isolate, fortunately seems ok. It’s what happens to frontline workers.

Well no, we shouldn't accept it as 'what happens to frontline workers'. This man firstly was breaking the order to stay away from his ex (dear knows what the full story is there), then it emerged that he did it knowing he had covid, clearly had no regard for her, potentially kids if she has any etc, plus then the police.

Because of this, the op's DS has now become ill. You don't think its ok to be angry about that?

I understand the fury. Can't believe the lack of empathy from some.

All people who can't social distance in their job should be higher up the list.

@goldielockdown2

Everyone who catches Covid has to catch it from someone, we can't criminalise everyone for spreading it, it's the nature of the virus. No one is safe unless they are completely cocooning and even then there are no guarantees.

So it is ok for people to go out as usual, knowing that they are infected with the virus?

I’m sorry to hear that your son and his colleagues caught virus I’m assuming they were wearing masks, which shows they provide minor protection from the virus.
On another note, my ex was police officer he did not discuss details of his work with me as breaches confidentiality? Need to be aware of sharing information.

Do you think it might be possible to sympathise with the OP, about something crap in her child's line of work

without

turning this into some kind of proxy civil war, devolved onto who 'deserves' early access to the vaccine?

OP posted about her child.

It's been derailed by the ongoing nuttiness that seems to have seeped into society, where everyone is turning on everyone else, scrabbling and fighting for what they perceive as advantages, snarling at other people in some kind of 'negative solidarity' (an idea that they are suffering - and are filled with rage for anyone they perceive as suffering less), and just being generally angry and mean.

We have better natures. We can do better than this. If we help one another - we rise higher, together. If we turn on each other, we destroy everything that gives life meaning and hope.

Come on, people: we can do better than this.

I understand the fury. Can't believe the lack of empathy from some.

I am empathetic, but not sure why the outrage specifically around covid, when police personnel are often at risk from a plethora of things much more dangerous than covid, it's nothing new, and although I hate the phrase, unfortunately it is part of the job. Those resisting arrest often use all sorts of threats as they aren't nice people, not sure what can be done about that. I agree they should be vaccinated asap.

@Robbybobtail

Another one who doesn’t understand the “fury”. Your ds and his colleagues could’ve already had it - seems strange they all caught it detaining a man (how long does this take?) when I know whole families who live together and only 1 or 2 out of 4-5 members of the family tested positive when brought into the home (this includes couples who share a bed).

I wouldn’t ever want one of my dc’s to be in the police force though, I understand how worrying that must be.

I expect they then had to travel in car together to the station? The windows can't be opened and cars are pretty small places..,

There seem to be less stories of members of a household escaping since this new variant emerged.