SA Police vaccination mandate revoked, unvaccinated cops to return to the beat

A vaccination mandate for SA Police employees has been revoked, with a new direction coming into effect from Monday that will allow unvaxxed workers to return to the beat — with conditions.

SA Police has removed a vaccination mandate for its employees, allowing unvaccinated officers to return to the beat.

From Monday at 7am, police employees who are not vaccinated can return to work, but must undertake a Rapid Antigen Test at the beginning of each shift and provide results to a supervisor.

They must also wear a properly-fitted PFR mask for their shift.

The new direction replaces the vaccine mandate which came info effect in November last year.

It became the subject of intense criticism by the state’s police union, who campaigned for unvaccinated police to be allowed back on the beat as Covid cases surged, forcing many vaccinated police into quarantine.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. Picture: Emma Brasier

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the mandate had constantly reviewed.

“SAPOL has been constantly monitoring this dynamic and fast changing situation and, as with other directions issued pursuant to the Major Emergency declaration, the Police Workers Vaccination Direction has continued to be reviewed as circumstances change,” Mr Stevens said.

He said 98.5 per cent of SA’s police workforce had now been vaccinated.

A police spokesperson said the mandate had initially been introduced for community safety.

“The direction was issued to ensure Covid-19 did not significantly impact the ability of South Australia Police to serve the community,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“Workers who chose not to be vaccinated were not permitted to engage in police work or attend police workplace settings.”

Under the new direction, police workers who remain unvaccinated will not be able to attend Residential Aged Care Facilities, Disability Facilities or the Forensic Science building.

Police union president Mark Carroll said the decision by Mr Stevens was a “common sense” move.

He said since November, about 75 employees have been off work, a figure Mr Carroll compared to “a whole patrol base” not on the job.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of the members that have been affected by this, and they’re very grateful for the association support, and that they are looking forward to resuming the careers they love,” he said.

Police Association of South Australia President Mark Carroll.

Mr Carroll said while the decision was welcomed “we think it should’ve happened sooner”.

“The police workforce was highly vaccinated from the word go, so we didn’t think there was any necessity for the mandation of the order.”

SA recorded 2047 new Covid cases on Friday, down from Thursday’s number of 2307.

Two South Australians, a woman in her 60s and a man in his 80s, who tested positive for Covid have died.

There are 106 people in hospital, with nine in ICU and one on a ventilator.