Wiltshire Police: 19 positive cases recorded since pandemic began

New figures, released under Freedom of Information regulations, have been gathered by the force’s business intelligence team.

They reveal that 19 positives coronavirus cases have been recorded. The cases have affected 18 police constables and one police sergeant.

A Wiltshire Police spokeswoman has explained how, while social distancing is “impossible” for officers, steps have been taken to ensure the number of positive cases remains low.

She said: “We are following national guidance, both from the National Police Chief’s Council and Public Health England, to help keep our officers and staff safe and their health and wellbeing has been a priority for us throughout.

“At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic we developed an organisational risk assessment and put in place a number of measures to help keep the public, our officers and staff safe.

“This included encouraging employees to work from home wherever possible, personal risk assessments for vulnerable employees, making our estate Covid secure and ensuring the wearing of PPE when appropriate.

A police officer walks through Devizes during lockdown

“The very nature of policing means that social distancing is not always possible, but we continue to encourage our officers and staff to not become complacent and maintain a 2m distance from each other whenever they can.”

In November, the Salisbury Journal reported that more than 130 Wiltshire Police officers had reported Covid-19-related sickness since the pandemic began.

At that point, the force could not give figures on the number of officers who had tested positive for the virus but said the figure of 134 included people who had to self-isolate but tested negative.

Those with Covid-19-related sickness were 101 police constables, eight inspectors and 25 officers with higher ranking.