Stuff Digital Edition

Police concerned about unvaccinated staff

Concerns are being raised within police about the risk unvaccinated non-sworn staff present to their colleagues and the public. Non-sworn staff are not covered under the Covid-19 vaccination mandate announced by the Government last week, which deals with sworn members of police staff, recruits and authorised officers. As of yesterday afternoon, 94 per cent of constabulary staff were fully vaccinated, compared to 91 per cent of non-sworn staff. Stuff understands there is strong dissatisfaction from within police about having unvaccinated non-sworn staff working alongside them in police stations and the risk it presents. Police Association president Chris Cahill said it was ‘‘highly’’ likely that the vast majority of non-sworn staff would eventually fall under the mandate. ‘‘It’s a legitimate concern and one that police are working through because the mandate has a second level, which is that you can apply a criteria to see if you need to mandate other staff and that’s what police are now working through.’’ Non-sworn staff who worked on front counters were likely to meet that criteria, while staff who worked away from the public may not.

National News

en-nz

2021-12-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281590948849062

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