Call for officers to receive vaccination

Police leaders have warned that enforcing the new national lockdown will put "a lot of pressure" on officers.

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, and John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, urged the Governmeent to place police officers on a priority list to receive corona virusv accines.

Mr Marsh said there were 1300 officers off duty because of the virus in London.

The comments came as the Government warned that police could take action if people leave home without a "reasonable excuse" permitted under new lockdown rules.

Fixed penalty notices of £200 will be issued for a first offence, with this doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.

Mr Marsh said: "It will obviously create a lot of pressure on us because we have a lot more officers off this time than we did back in March.

"So the pressure is on my colleagues. They are a group of peoplewho actually have to go to work and have to be out there with the public, every day. "It's just amazing that no consideration whatsoever has been given to vaccinating police."

Mr Apter said: "There is no will for the police to be vaccinated at the moment, which is worrying, considering if these numbers increase as they are, then who's going to be out there doing frontline policing?"

In a statement issued on Monday evening following the lockdown announcement, Mr Apter urged the public to support police by staying at home unless it is "absolutely necessary" to go outside.