Cases of Covid-19 among Kent Police employees declined in January amid renewed calls for vaccines to be prioritised for frontline officers.

Latest figures released by the Kent force show there were 191 positive tests among officers, staff and volunteers last month, down from a peak of 238 the previous month.

Of the cases among officers, the bulk of the infections were recorded by those of constable rank.

Neil Mennie is chairman of the Kent Police Federation, which represents officers, and he has called on the Government to speed up plans to deliver jabs to the county's cops.

He said: "The Vaccines Minister said mid-March which unfortunately is a bit too far off for us.

"We'd like it sooner than that and we will continue to press for that.

"We’d love to be able to carry out our business socially distanced at all times but we just can’t do that. Even something like someone being angry and shouting at us creates aerosols. We have to go into people’s personal spaces and we need to do that as safely as we can.

"Really and truly we need to be vaccinated as soon as we can so we can help."

Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott has echoed the plea for police to receive the vaccine as soon as possible.

Statistics reported by the BBC show that, in the period March 2 to December 6, Kent Police recorded 252 crimes where officers were assaulted by being spat at, 21% of all attacks on the police.

The total of 238 positive tests among all Kent Police employees in December represented a steep increase on the previous months.

In September there were just two instances recorded, climbing to 45 in October and then 143 in November.

The prevalence of cases among officers and staff reflects the nature of their work within our communities amid the ongoing pandemic.

Asst Ch Con Claire Nix said: "Police officers on the front line are putting themselves at risk every day to ensure public safety and that the latest Government restrictions are adhered to."

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