Hancock must ‘do duty’ with police jab
POLICE leaders have accused the Government of “betraying” frontline officers over the Covid-19 vaccine.
They reacted with fury after Health Secretary Matt Hancock dismissed calls for police to get priority jabs.
The Police Federation has urged ministers to protect bobbies most at risk on duty.
It insists it is not about “jumping the queue” but the Government’s duty of care.
Some senior politicians have voiced support but ministers are sticking to the plan to vaccinate older people along with health and care workers first.
John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “Police officers feel betrayed by the lack of action from Government.
“The warm words and platitudes are simply not enough. Officers are risking their lives – they are in daily contact with vulnerable people – and must now be protected without delay.
“Anything less would be a dereliction of duty.”
The federation believes police in England and Wales could be vaccinated in a single day if there was the “political will”.
Its 43 branches across both countries have signed an open letter condemning Mr Hancock’s remarks.
They say the Health Secretary was “unable to offer any guarantee officers would be immunised in the first wave or even beyond that. This is not acceptable.”
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, 60, said last month she was “baffled” by the vaccine policy, which means she will be immunised before younger officers in daily danger of being infected.