A POLICE employee has raised an alarm about Covid-19 safety at stations across the Thames Valley after custody sergeants were ordered to ignore an alert by the NHS Track and Trace application.

The two sergeants, who work at Abingdon Police Station, were sent home last weekend after they came into close contact with a detention officer who tested positive for the virus .

The NHS application alerted them to self-isolate for at least a week, however, only a day later they were given an order to return to work, without even undergoing a Covid-19 test.

A Thames Valley Police staff member, who wishes not to be named, has now revealed that the reason given was that TVP's internal track and trace system deemed the custody sergeants had not had 'sufficient contact' with the infected detention officer.

The anonymous employee commented: "This is nonsense and one of the custody sergeants is furious about it.

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"There are serious concerns amongst staff working at Abingdon custody that they are being unreasonably exposed to infection through inadequate space, PPE and reckless decision making around self isolation.

"Custody is a very demanding, intense and high risk environment.

"Criminal Justice senior management are dictating that all staff must maintain a one metre distance at all times.

"This is completely unworkable but an 'easy' alternative to enhanced PPE or opening more custody suites."

But according to the source these problems are not isolated only to Abingdon police station.

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In fact, they revealed that officers across the Thames Valley were under 'an awful lot of pressure' to perform, with a number of them suffering with anxiety and having to take lengthy periods off of work to manage the stress.

Figures released by the force last year show that from March to September last year, 225 officers were recorded off work with mental health – 126 with stress and 23 with PTSD.

Depression has also been put down to hundreds of officers taking time off work with anxiety following closely behind.

While the force did not wish to comment on claims about Thames-wide culture of performance pressure, it said they had put in place 'heightened measures' to protect staff, including enhanced PPE, screens around desks and ensuring fluid repellent masks were worn in communal custody areas.

Chief superintendent Robert France said: "As a force we take the safety of our officers and staff extremely seriously and we are following strict health and safety protocols in order to achieve this.

"We continually review our Covid secure processes within custody to ensure they are up to date and in line with national policy.

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"In this specific incident a positive case was identified through a test and in the first instance those who may have had contact with this person isolated.

"A rapid investigation was conducted, supported by our Track and Trace team, to identify who had close contact with the person who tested positive.

"Those who had close contact isolated and those who did not were advised they could return to work.

"No officer who was advised they could return to work was in close contact with the person who tested positive and had there been such close contact, they would not have been allowed back into the workplace until the isolation period had ended."

Mr France confirmed that the Police Federation were also satisfied with the force's approach in this matter.

He added: "Those working in custody play a vital role in protecting our communities from harm, protecting the vulnerable and bringing to justice those who seek to commit crime, even in the face of a pandemic.

"We are hugely proud and grateful for the work they are doing to protect the public in what are extremely challenging times."

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