Covid hits police after ‘lockdown barbecue’

A POLICE force is investigating claims its officers attended a barbecue that led to an outbreak of coronavirus at their station.

Six officers based at Bedworth, Warwickshire, fell ill after the party, held on the spring Bank Holiday. At the time, Britons could only meet one other person from outside their household in a park.

Now the force is investigating five officers who reportedly went to the barbecue.

Sources told The Mail on Sunday that local chiefs are ‘on the warpath’ over the ‘stupidity’ of staff who were responsible for enforcing the lockdown.

Meanwhile, the entire police station where they are based has had to be deep-cleaned and all staff told to take Covid-19 tests.

However, it is claimed that only those who tested positive are having to self-isolate. An insider said: ‘It’s an utter shambles. Officers are worried for their families and the general public are being put at risk.’

Warwickshire Police confirmed last night that six officers who work at Bedworth police station have tested positive for coronavirus since the Bank Holiday on May 25. Just 14 officers have had it in the entire force since the start of the pandemic.

A force spokesman said: ‘At this time, the source of these infections is unknown. We have been made aware that a small number of officers may have breached social distancing regulations. All of those officers involved are currently subject to an internal misconduct investigation on which it would be unfair to comment further at this time.’

The station has not been closed. Other staff who have taken tests have all come back negative. Assistant Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith said police were working with Public Health England to ‘minimise the risk to the public and our wider workforce.’

Warwickshire Police have issued just 40 fines for lockdown breaches – fewer than any other force.