OFFICERS are becoming psychologically and physically fatigued from policing during the COVID-19 pandemic, South Yorkshire Police Federation Chairman Steve Kent has said.<\/p>\n
England\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Steve said: \u201cWe are dealing with crime and other incidents, but COVID is a big cloud that\u2019s above us, so there\u2019s still a fair bit of nervousness out there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think officers, just as much as the public, are psychologically as well as physically fatigued from this now. They\u2019re fed up of the grind of it. They\u2019re 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\u2019s a very difficult situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
But he said his officers are a \u201cresilient bunch\u201d who are beginning to see \u201cthe light at the end of the tunnel\u201d.<\/p>\n
There were two worries about Christmas, Steve said. He explained: \u201cThere\u2019s the worry about increased demand around Christmas, especially with people having parties and domestics, that kind of thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there\u2019s 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\u2019re going to be here.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a shame, and I don\u2019t think it has really been recognised. It\u2019s another testament to the selfless acts that officers do.\u201d<\/p>\n
South Yorkshire\u2019s Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings told The Star: \u201cIn England, coming in and out of restrictions seemed reactive \u2013 a whack-a-mole feel \u2013 rather than strategic\u2026 All this raises issues for policing, as people become weary and fed up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Ch\u00e9 Donald, National Vice-Chair of the PFEW, said: \u201cPolice 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will not be trying to spoil people\u2019s fun or ruin Christmas \u2013 we\u2019re trying to stop this deadly virus taking more lives. The vast majority of the public understand this and support us.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, we\u2019ve also been criticised by some for enforcing too much \u2013 while others have said it\u2019s not enough.\u201d<\/p>\n