SOUTH Yorkshire Police Officers are being reminded of the importance of wearing anti COVID PPE wherever and whenever they can.<\/p>\n
South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Steve Kent recognises there may be incidents where stopping to put on a face mask might not be safe or appropriate, but he hopes all members will realise the importance of donning PPE to protect themselves and the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s there to protect them and others.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are good stocks of PPE in the force, so we must wear it. In fact, all police officers must wear masks in any police building unless they\u2019re sat at their work station.\u201d<\/p>\n
It might be a different matter when officers are dealing with pub brawls or when talking to potentially suicidal people, Steve added.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s common sense, and there are exemptions to an extent for policing, but for low-level interactions with the public and for everyday business then PPE has to be worn.<\/p>\n
\u201cHypothetically, if you\u2019re negotiating with somebody who was suicidal on a bridge, you\u2019re not necessarily going to talk to them with a facemask on.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re going to keep your distance, and you\u2019re going to take your facemask off to get that interaction and engagement.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficers are exceptionally good at using their common sense and judgement and officers out there on the streets should exercise that common sense when it comes to the situations that they\u2019re dealing with and do the very best that they can.\u201d<\/p>\n
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