Deja vu

Lockdown is upon us again. It was probably inevitable, but it doesn’t mean our strategy has been a failure. The big picture to consider for us is the low number of deaths, and in that we are leading the world.

However, the vaccine rollout, in which most Police staff were relegated to the last group to be vaccinated, has raised multiple questions for me and my mates on the frontline. The most obvious being, who thinks police officers are not part of emergency services? It’s been raised before, but still hasn’t been answered as far as I can see.

It annoys me that a constable can be the subject of a Code of Conduct investigation for a split-second decision, but no one seems to be accountable for this appalling decision.

Perhaps the ministers of police and health would like to choose who issues the public apology?

Mask rules

I hear around the traps that a few hard conversations have been needed around the wearing of masks. For example, the problem of fitting them over bushy beards, and what to do with staff who don’t want to be vaccinated.

Lucky I’m here to help.

No 1, if you don’t have a valid medical exemption for having a beard (I’d love to know if there is such a thing), get the razor out.

No 2, roll up your sleeve. We shouldn’t be able to pick and choose when health and safety protocols should apply. All for one and one for all, I say.

Recruit train puffs on

Word is that there has been consternation around the decision to keep recruit training rolling on during Level 4, and whether it’s even allowed under the rules.

From reports I’ve heard, and bearing in mind the significant gaps on the frontline as more staff leave and the cancelling of recruit wings earlier in the year, I suspect they had no option but to keep going if they want to continue to deploy i-cars in some districts.

From the frontline, the promised 1800 extra cops is starting to look like a pipe dream.

Well, it’s time for my daily lockdown exercise for my physical wellbeing, followed by a lockdown cocktail at the end of the day for my mental wellbeing.

This column is written by a frontline police member. It does not represent the views or policies of the Police Association.