POLICE officers do not have the time or resources to be diverted away from serious crimes and murder to police minor COVID-19 regulation breaches, South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.<\/p>\n
Already under-pressure officers are working \u2018daft hours\u2019 to cope with normal levels of demand, and Federation Chairman Steve Kent said if they are dealing with COVID-19 rule-breakers, it is more likely to be larger gatherings rather than too many people visiting their grandparents.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cOfficers are working really, really long hours, and now the expectation from Government is that they now go out and deal with people breaching COVID regulations as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to be focusing on serious crime and protecting vulnerable people in our county, and we can\u2019t necessarily afford for officers to be distracted by going to minor potential breaches of the COVID rules like grandparents having kids round or one too many people in a house.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to focus on the serious breaches, the raves, the parties, that kind of thing, and try and focus on our serious, every day normal business \u2013 which isn\u2019t slowing down unfortunately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve (pictured) said officers are carrying on as usual as best they can as advice and direction about how to combat the virus changes almost day by day.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThe force has got a common-sense stance which is sometimes difficult when there isn\u2019t necessarily consistency from Government, and they tend to thrust rule changes and guidance onto policing at the last minute.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn\u2019t helpful at all for the force or for officers. It\u2019s difficult for them. Some officers think they aren\u2019t getting enough protection on the front line, while others say they don\u2019t need it and want to get on with their lives and jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome say it\u2019s ridiculous and that they shouldn\u2019t be sat wearing masks in police cars while others say we should do more. It\u2019s a challenge but policing reflects society.\u201d<\/p>\n