Talking Point: Imagine being a police officer at violent incidents and not knowing if people have coronavirus

COLIN RILEY: Tasmania Police officers are facing greater risks

PLEA: Support police as they venture into the community daily. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

The Police Association of Tasmania and its membership of more than 1300 interact with the Tasmanian public every day, 24 hours a day.

The reality of the COVID-19 pandemic is that any of those people could be infected.

This week, the Police Federation of Australia, which represents 63,000 officers, met via phone to discuss the pandemic issue.

It is essential that members have the right policies and personal protection equipment so we are safe and can continue to serve the community, at the same time not transmitting the virus across Tasmania.

We are highly aware decisions by state and federal governments have direct consequences upon our members. The Premier’s declaration of a public health emergency impacts on our daily tasks, as will any declaration of a state of emergency.

Tasmania Police will be the instrument by which government enforces such safeguards.

One highly likely example of what our members will face daily is responding to emotionally charged, family violence incidents in self-isolated households.

This will include all the complexities of potentially using force, managing the incident, the offender — who may not be able to remain — and welfare of the attending officers. Bearing in mind, police officers may not be aware a household is in lockdown until they speak with the residents — and hopefully they disclose this.

We need protocols for attending hospitals, COVID-19 treatment centres or homes where the occupants are self-isolating. We need procedures for attending medical facilities or even supermarkets where there are suspected public order concerns and related to potential COVID-19 exposure.

Another example will be transporting people to medical facilities if the responsible agency is unable to facilitate this service — which already occurs.

Tasmania Police will also need new processes to decontaminate vehicles and cells for the next client we interact with during a shift.

It is essential that Tasmania Police officers and other emergency service workers are provided with priority COVID-19 testing to ensure we are safe and fully able to execute our duties in the community.

For Tasmania Police, that means keeping the Tasmanian community — its people and families — safe.

We will also need strategies for when our members become ill or have to self-isolate, to ensure police safe numbers are maintained on first responder shifts by the use of police held in reserve.

There is the potential of a decreasingly available police workforce. We need therefore to define essential and non-essential tasks. Not all jobs require actual attendance; some can be completed by phone.

This will free up police capacity to ensure our members can respond to high-risk matters in a timely and safe fashion. The Tasmanian public will need to be patient and understanding of our dilemma — we will not be able to provide our usual “gold standard” service for every matter.

Like many Tasmanians, our members have young children and require childcare arrangements if schools close. We also have elderly parents for whom we are responsible, as well as family members who are vulnerable with low immunity – at high risk from COVID-19.

But Tasmania Police will continue to venture into the community daily, interacting with potential carriers of the virus, ensuring that the community remains safe.

What we ask for is support from the Tasmanian community. Ensure you take all steps as directed by the state and federal health authorities to minimise the spread of the virus.

Show empathy and understanding for the frail, elderly and disabled when you go to the supermarket.

Excessive hoarding of food and other items, potentially results in depriving a vulnerable person of their next meal and causes unnecessary anxiety and fear for them.

Be kind to one another — whether they are a family member or complete stranger.

However long this situation lasts, police officers and other emergency service workers will always do their utmost to protect the community.

We will do our best to ensure that you stay safe.

Colin Riley is president of the Police Association of Tasmania.