...as top counter-terror officers stay away too

UP TO half of Scotland Yard’s counter-terror team work from home, The Mail on Sunday understands.

Commanders fear the lack of SO15 staff at their desks could have an impact on investigations.

Although officers must be at work to use high-security systems, one insider said: ‘It’s a joke. Up to half the non-frontline teams are working from home at any one time. How is that sustainable? Nobody knows what anyone’s doing at home half the time. We need the teams together in stations and offices for the best results.’

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: ‘The Met has reverted to no working from home, but we have officers managing their time in different ways, shall we say. It’s not official.’

Some units are said to hold meetings in public libraries and rail stations after office space was cut. The Met said it had supported staff during the pandemic ‘while balancing operational requirements’.