Met police chief Dame Cressida Dick says retired officers and volunteers could be drafted in as sick cover when force numbers are hit by coronavirus
- Cressida Dick admits retired officers may be called back due to the coronavirus
- There have been 1,543 positive tests for coronavirus in the UK as of 9am today
- Police say they havn’t ruled out ‘any option’ in terms of boosting officer numbers
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said that retired police officers and volunteers could be drafted in to make up numbers if coronavirus causes staff shortages.
There have been 1,543 positive tests for coronavirus in the UK as of 9am today, up from 1,372 yesterday.
The death toll has risen to at least 36 after the first fatality in Wales.
The virus has ravaged the country, with people up and down the UK stockpiling goods and the NHS and emergency services groaning under the demand.
Now, Commissioner Dick has admitted the virus could also cause significant issues for the police.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick admits retired officers may have to be called back in
She said: ‘We need to be flexible, we are a people organisation and of course it’s likely as other people are coming into contact with the virus some of my people will as well.
‘We have had plans in place for a long time to be able to move people around, to change people from one role to another, to make sure we protect the really mission-critical services.
‘We have not ruled out any option in terms of boosting our numbers.
‘We have lots of people who volunteer with the Met, we can bring them in more, and indeed there may be some areas where it would make sense to bring in some retired officers to help us out.’
It comes as the NHS also appealed to entice former and foreign doctors to return.
Discussing the virus, she added: ‘We have not ruled out any option in terms of boosting our numbers’
The NHS is offering thousands of pounds to British GPs working abroad if they return home – in a bid to tackle a major shortage of family doctors.
NHS England will pay up to £18,500 in ‘relocation support’ for UK-qualified GPs to come back to the health service.
It is part of a scheme that also aims to bring hundreds of GPs out of retirement and career breaks.
Doctors will be put on an ‘induction and refresher’ placement in a GP practice to get their skills up to scratch and paid a bursary of £3,500 a month.
Recently retired doctors and nurses could also be asked to return to the NHS.