Officers Are Fatigued By Policing COVID

OFFICERS are becoming psychologically and physically fatigued from policing during the COVID-19 pandemic, South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Steve Kent has said.

England’s lockdown ends on 2 December, after which South Yorkshire goes into Tier 3, which has the highest restrictions. The five-day relaxation of the rules around Christmas is also expected to cause issues for policing.

Steve said: “We are dealing with crime and other incidents, but COVID is a big cloud that’s above us, so there’s still a fair bit of nervousness out there.

“I think officers, just as much as the public, are psychologically as well as physically fatigued from this now. They’re fed up of the grind of it. They’re expected to work long hours, really hard, but without the ability to let off steam anywhere else or go to meet their friends and families. It’s a very difficult situation.”

But he said his officers are a “resilient bunch” who are beginning to see “the light at the end of the tunnel”.

There were two worries about Christmas, Steve said. He explained: “There’s the worry about increased demand around Christmas, especially with people having parties and domestics, that kind of thing.

“But there’s also the fact that the majority of officers on the frontline will probably miss out on having that little window where they might be able to see close family and friends, because they’re going to be here.

“That’s a shame, and I don’t think it has really been recognised. It’s another testament to the selfless acts that officers do.”

South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings told The Star: “In England, coming in and out of restrictions seemed reactive – a whack-a-mole feel – rather than strategic… All this raises issues for policing, as people become weary and fed up.”

Meanwhile Ché Donald, National Vice-Chair of the PFEW, said: “Police officers are human beings who are doing an extraordinary job in extraordinary circumstances. However, a short-term relaxation of COVID-19 regulations and a return to the tier system represents a unique challenge and will be next to impossible to police.

“We will not be trying to spoil people’s fun or ruin Christmas – we’re trying to stop this deadly virus taking more lives. The vast majority of the public understand this and support us.

“However, we’ve also been criticised by some for enforcing too much – while others have said it’s not enough.”