Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn is calling for the Welsh Government to include police officers on the Covid-19 Vaccination priority list so that they can be protected from the virus as a matter of urgency.

A petition calling for this to take place was recently set-up by a father of a police officer who fell ill following arresting a man who was infected by the virus.

More than 6,000 signatures already on the petition, there is support from Unison, the NPCC along with the Police Federation of England and Wales, and now Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner.

Graham Bishop, who launched the petition, explained that his son passed on the virus to his heavily pregnant wife who ended up in a coronavirus ward in hospital.

He said: “She had to have an emergency Caesarean section with the twins born a month early. Not only are police at high risk to themselves every day, they also risk their families. Additionally, the loss of policing time is a great strain on the force when officers are off sick with Covid.”

Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn is calling on the Welsh Government to ensure that front line officers are vaccinated as a priority.

PCC Llywelyn said: “Like all other first responders and NHS staff, police officers risk their lives every day to keep the public safe, and are at a higher risk of contracting and transmitting Covid-19 due to their increased level of exposure with the general public and lack of regular testing.

“We have a situation at the Police Headquarters in Llangunnor, Carmarthen where we are providing resources to support the Welsh Ambulance Service to facilitate the vaccination process of their staff who are based at HQ, which is fantastic. But, I find it frustrating that while we are putting resources in place to carry out the vaccination process at HQ, it is still unclear, when the vaccination will become available to us to roll out to our officers.

“Police officers are essential workers, they are in face to face contact with the general public on a daily basis, dealing with difficult and complex situations, and as a result it is essential that they are included on the priority list like other first respondents.

“I’m now calling on the Welsh Government for some clarity on the roll-out schedule, and that police officers are given the same priority as other emergency services so that the public are confident that they are safe when they come in to contact with the Police.”

Roger Webb, secretary of Dyfed Powys Police Federation, said officers are putting their health at risk as they go about their duties.

He said: “While I clearly understand the need for the most vulnerable people in our communities, frontline health service staff and those working in care homes to be right at the top of the list for the new vaccines, I also believe that police officers should be prioritised too.

“I would urge people to sign this petition so that this issue can be discussed in the Welsh Parliament.”