Ken Marsh (pictured), the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said his members no longer want to regulate the law
Unvaccinated officers do not want to continue policing coronavirus restrictions in the final month before restrictions are eased, according to the union chief.
Ken Marsh, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said on Sunday that his members no longer want to regulate the law.
‘Police don’t want to police this. We have had enough of this. It is not policeable. It is not manageable,’ he told The Telegraph.
Last week the Government announced that it would continue to vaccinate the population according to their age group.
But the Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers in what is the UK’s biggest force, is now demanding that frontline officers receive their Covid-19 jabs as a priority.
It comes after huge crowds flocked to beaches and parks in their droves to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather – but it seems that only some police forces are still trying to enforce the rules.
Unvaccinated officers do not want to continue policing coronavirus restrictions, according to the union chief. Pictured: Police officers stop to issue compliance letters to motorists travelling from afar to South Shields seaside on Sunday
Currently police officers have to regularly break coronavirus restrictions to continue their duties – including flouting the two-metre rule when apprehending uncooperative suspects.
Mr Marsh has said that the union is seeking legal action as to whether officers could refuse to break rules in the line of duty unless they receive their vaccines.
He told the publication: ‘We have to break Covid legislation every day of the week,’ he said. ‘What if I turn round and say to my 32,000 members: “Adhere totally to Covid legislation.”
‘That is not what we want, but if we have to do that to protect my colleagues I will do that. Ministers are just not listening. It is not right police are having to police huge crowds without the jab.
‘Our vulnerability is massive. We don’t have the right to strike, but we are considering sticking to the two-metre rule. We are taking legal advice on it.’
A spokesman Metropolitan Police spokesman said the force remained committed to upholding the law but added that fines would only be issued in the most serious flouting of regulations.
The Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers in what is the UK’s biggest force, is now demanding that frontline officers receive their Covid-19 jabs as a priority. Pictured: Police stopping motorists in South Shields
It comes as actually police appeared to be ramping up fines this weekend as they issued £70,000 in penalties to just two parties in central London and cracked down on beach-goers flouting lockdown.
Northumbria Police were seen battling to keep motorists from arriving at the beach in South Shields, South Tyneside, today, as they handed out compliance letters to people travelling outside their local area.
Earlier this morning, at 1.30am, Metropolitan Police issued penalties of £800 each to 50 people at an illegal gathering at a property in Green Street, Mayfair, central London.
The organiser of the party, a 29-year-old man was reported and issued with a fine of £10,000 for breaching Covid regulations.
Just half an hour later at 2am the force were called to another party within 1,600ft of the first, at a flat in Brooks Mews.
Crowds of people walked close together along South Shields beach, in South Tyneside, on Sunday
Sun-seekers flock to the seaside in South Tyneside after ignoring Government appeals to stay indoors to stop the spread of Covid
A further 20 people were handed £800 fines – an investigation is ongoing to identify the organiser of the event.
Inspector Kevin Fagan of the Central West Command Unit which covers Westminster said: ‘Despite recent announcements about how and when Covid restrictions may be eased, nothing has changed in terms of the regulations.
‘Illegal gatherings like this are irresponsible and put pressure on the emergency services who have do deal with the consequences of these people’s selfish actions.
‘The rules are clear, as should be the message that the police will enforce them where wilful breaches are found to have taken place.’