Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to protect police officers and police staff from covid-19; and whether they will be prioritised for the covid-19 vaccine.

The Government recognises that police officers and staff are playing a vital role helping to control the spread of coronavirus while continuing to keep criminals off our streets.

We continue to work extremely closely with police to ensure they receive the equipment they need, including Personal Protective Equipment, when they need it, in order to carry out their jobs safely.

Maintaining the health and wellbeing of police officers and staff during the pandemic is of critical importance. The College of Policing has developed guidance for them on a range of issues as part of the National Police Wellbeing Service: https://beta.college.police.uk/guidance/covid-19/looking-after-yourself

On vaccines, the current priority list, produced by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), targets those assessed to be at the greatest risk of dying from coronavirus. In line with this advice those being vaccinated first are people in care homes, the elderly, those with underlying health conditions and frontline health workers. Those over 50, and all adults in an exposure risk group, will then also be eligible for vaccination in the early phase of the programme. This already includes members of the police.

Under phase 2 of the Vaccine Delivery Plan the JCVI may include key public services and occupations with a high risk exposure to the virus like police officers who have frequent close contact with members of the public.