Top cops ‘ disparaged’ contact tracing app

SENIOR officers made disparaging comments about the NHS contact tracing app, despite encouraging cops to use it, the police union has claimed.

The Scottish Police Federation ( SPF) backs the use of the app but claimed that “senior personnel” in Police Scotland’s health and safety group said the app was “haphazard, unreliable and inaccurate”.

It accused senior members of the force of having “casual disregard for the health and safety of officers” and said that Police Scotland was ignoring the dangers faced by ordinary police on the streets.

David Hamilton, chair of the SPF, said: “Police Scotland needs to wake up to the risk and exposure that its operational officers are facing.

“This reckless ‘ ostrich- ing’ needs to stop and Police Scotland should publicly join us in encouraging all operational officers to use this helpful technology.”

Justice Secretary Humza

Yousaf defended the force and said he did not recognise the police union’s description of Police Scotland.

He added: “Like the SPF, Police Scotland supports the introduction of the Protect Scotland app and like any employer they are carefully considering its use in different operational circumstances.

“We know that Protect Scotland is working, and the Scottish Government continues to encourage everyone to download and use the Test and Protect app if they have a compatible smartphone, joining the more than 1.4 million people who have already done so.”

Some workers, such as bus drivers and some healthcare workers are told to turn off the app, for fear of generating “false positives”.

Workers who spend all day in medical- grade PPE in clinical settings or behind protective screens are told to pause the app during working hours.