On 29th January 2021, Katy Bourne – the current Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex – reassured the Sussex Police and Crime Panel that police officers would receive prioritisation during phase two of vaccine rollout.
During the Sussex Police and Crime Panel, she stated that she had been very vocal about the police receiving priority vaccinations. She insisted that she had government reassurances and suggested it was highly likely that the police would be covered in the second wave.
But less than one month later, the government has announced that phase two of the vaccination rollout will not cover occupational groups. Instead, it will focus on age categories.
After the vaccine is offered to those in vulnerable groups and those over the age of 50, phase two vaccine prioritisation is as follows:
- Everyone aged between 40 and 49
- Everyone aged between 30 and 39
- Everyone aged between 18 and 29
Kahina Bouhassane, Green Party Candidate for the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner says:
“Unfortunately this is just another example of empty tory promises. Officers along with all front line workers should be prioritised for the vaccines. As Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, I would stand up to the government and demand this protection. This affects real people, risking their lives to protect our community. Officers don’t need empty promises, they need real action.”
