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

[PrivateHall]

@Bunnyrun5

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.

As we keep hearing, masks only are part of the picture, they should ideally be used with 2m distancing, which obviously wasn't possible in this situation. Also, some forces only supplied cloth masks rather than proper fluid repellent masks, which is really what they should be wearing.

[littlebillie]

Home Secretary has just said that all emergency services on the frontline will be vaccinated

[diddydave]

Good to see that they are considering putting those at most risk of being exposed next after those who are most vulnerable to its effects: www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-55730549

[PlanDeRaccordement]

You can be self isolating and violate a non-molestation order because such an order prohibits harassment and communication- even by text, email, phone, messaging, posted letters etc.

So it’s a bit premature to be furious about this. He did warn the police when they showed up on his doorstep that he had Covid. So it’s not like he spat at then and laughed and only after they got him to the station did he reveal he had Covid.

[Ponoka7]

The vaccination won't remove the need for isolation, though. So the problem isn't solved by the vaccine, as Chris Whitty has said from day one. Most of the public facing Police will be under 45 and fit and healthy. So it's a people pleasing exercise. Not that I disagree with it. But it's the sentence that you should feel furious at. Breaking of a non mol shouldn't just be another fine, breaking isolation on top and committing an offence against a person, should get a custodial. That's the only way to protect the Officers and the public.

[canigooutyet]

@MrsHusky

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.

Common sense could have told the officers to carry masks with them and wear them, just like they carried gloves before CV for when they come into contact with potentially infections people.

He told them he had the virus, why would he need to produce any evidence to confirm this?

People with other infectious things aren't required to provide evidence. A suspect says they have CV/HIV/Whooping cough/Impertigo and more then attending officers take the stance they are being truthful and act accordingly to protect themselves. Or have a mindset of well they are criminals so automatic liars and take a huge risk.

[goldielockdown2]

Private no. OP didn't state the offender was out and about as usual.
The police deal with criminals. In this case the offender was dealt with according to the law. What more is there to say.

[Nenevalleykayaker]

It’s bad luck isn’t it.

My 11 year old was positive Covid from secondary school. I was still in close contact kissing and cuddles on the day of his symptoms before we tested him, and he was up and about around the house as normal for the isolation period, but I never got it nor did anyone else in the household (early 50s)

We started out with separate plates, cutlery, cups etc but he wasn’t confined to his roo or anything, and a lot of the time his young teenage sister and him forgot to social distance around the house.

[Pringlemonster]

Police should be the first to get vaccinations.or at least the same time as care home residents and doctors ,nurses

[PurpleWh1teGreen]

I'm sorry to hear this and hope your DS makes a speedy recovery.

I have three family members in the police. 2 had it in the spring and the other in December. I'd like to see harsher penalties for people who don't isolate and have signed the petition for frontline police officers to be vaccinated.

[Thewiseoneincognito]

Do they not have to wear gloves if they’re touching people? I feel utterly dirty enough just walking around M&S food hall never mind actually touching rough criminals. Hideous. Hope your DS soon recovers OP!

[thedancingbear]

@PurpleWh1teGreen

I'm sorry to hear this and hope your DS makes a speedy recovery.

I have three family members in the police. 2 had it in the spring and the other in December. I'd like to see harsher penalties for people who don't isolate and have signed the petition for frontline police officers to be vaccinated.

Specifically who would you have these fit young people, who are extremely unlikely to die of covid, take their vaccine off. Would it be 80+-year-olds in care homes, or cancer sufferers, for example?

[MaelyssQ]

I think you're raging at the wrong person. It's horrible having Covid - I speak from experience - but we are all aware it's a pandemic and a very infectious disease. I hope your son is one of the lucky ones who have little to no symptoms.

[lovelemoncurd]

Printing Patel saying police should be priority for the vaccine. I totally agree.

[Magicpaintbrush]

My DH is in the Met and about 80% of his team have caught Covid in the past 6 weeks. Some have recovered and are back at work, some are off suffering with it now. They should be higher up the list for vaccinations.

[HazelBite]

I am "furious" as he is a "Special Constable" this is a voluntary role, the rest of his time he is doing his day job from home. They are so low in numbers of available beat officers at the moment he is doing more hours than usual.
I am furious at the idiots who think its okay to flout the rules, have anti covid marches, that have to be policed, and think its okay not to wear masks on a bus.
Okay, okay I'm just having a furious day

[thedancingbear]

@Magicpaintbrush

My DH is in the Met and about 80% of his team have caught Covid in the past 6 weeks. Some have recovered and are back at work, some are off suffering with it now. They should be higher up the list for vaccinations.

Again, who would you have these fit young people, who are extremely unlikely to die of covid, take their vaccine off. Would it be 80+-year-olds in care homes, or cancer sufferers, for example?

[AuntieStella]

Anecdotally, emergency services are sneaking up the vaccine queue because they are called for 'end of day' jabs if there have been no-shows or there are shots left over for any other reason. Because they're good at getting to places in minutes.

And they've been been under consideration for top level (occupational) priority in phase 2 (alongside a handful of key occupations) since at least December when JCVI published the definitive phase 1 list and the possibilities for phase 2

[Nicknacky]

@thedancingbear So do you not agree with any frontline workers getting vaccinated. Like nurses, care home staff etc?

You do realise that not all police officers are “fit young people”?

[SuperbGorgonzola]

DancingBear, yes I do think the police should have it before some older people, because the world still goes on despite Covid.

The police are the ones who help when people are in crisis, when people are in danger. If lots of them are unwell and self isolating, then people who need the police will be less likely to get swift help.

[Mittens030869]

The police are the ones who help when people are in crisis, when people are in danger. If lots of them are unwell and self isolating, then people who need the police will be less likely to get swift help.

^This. Any police officer who catches Covid has to self-isolate. So even those who only have a mild dose of Covid of are asymptomatic will be off duty for 10 days. Plus, chances are that there will be some who end up in hospital or who have long Covid. (Yes, admittedly the risk to them of death will be very low, no one is suggesting otherwise.)

This is why special constables like the OP's DS are being placed at unacceptable levels of risk, and it's understandable that the OP is angry.

And it's also why the police should be prioritised for vaccines. We can't afford to have large numbers of police officers self-isolating.

[Lweji]

What protection did they have and what precautions did they take to avoid getting infected? Surely they must realise that even if the man didn't know he had covid or was pre-symptomatic they could have been infected. They can get it from ANYONE.
If they are not protected, my anger would be at the Police and the government, or themselves.

And a final comment about voluntary police roles. They basically support a government that doesn't want to pay actual people to do jobs they should be paid to do. Even people who join in as a step towards getting in the force should be paid. People in police roles should be properly trained and paid. More so if they are not even covered for risks of the job.

[AuntieStella]

I may have misheard, but I think it was on the news last night that the Met and at least some other police forces are refusing to release current sick absence numbers.

That probably does not bode well for numbers available to work, especially as they were hoping to use the police to fill gaps in the driving of ambulances

[thedancingbear]

So do you not agree with any frontline workers getting vaccinated. Like nurses, care home staff etc?

No. Where have I said that?

You do realise that not all police officers are “fit young people”?

Most police retire at 55 or sooner. If they are not physically fit, they should not be in the job.

DancingBear, yes I do think the police should have it before some older people, because the world still goes on despite Covid.

But only for your mates, it seems. Fuck the elderly, fuck the CEV.

[Nicknacky]

@thedancingbear Well, it’s your posts that are saying that the vaccine might be getting taken away from other people more in need.

You also do realise that police officers are in contact with medically vulnerable people frequently, don’t you? Not to mention their own families.

And like other posters have said, absence rates are shocking right now so if it helps keep cops at work then get them vaccinated.

And yes, they do generally retire in their 50’s but many have health conditions that will make them vulnerable, it’s not about being physically fit.