'It's so hypocritical': West Yorkshire Police 999 call handler speaks out over lack of social distancing at force headquarters

The emergency call handler says staff dealing with 999 calls during the coronavirus pandemic are unable to do so at a safe distance from each other as they work around the clock in cramped conditions.

The worker told the Yorkshire Evening Post that staff are desperate for management to make urgent arrangements to ensure safer social distancing at the call centre on Laburnum Road, Wakefield.

Now the force has admitted steps were not taken to allow effective social distancing and it is taking action to address the concerns raised.

The source said: "The police are making the enforcement of social distancing among the public a priority.

"But we are not obeying the rules that we are enforcing - it feels so hypocritical.

"People are supposed to be keeping at least two metres apart but, due to no fault of our own, we are working at desks no more than a metre away from other.

"There are too many of us sat too close together. We feel frightened, very uncomfortable and unsafe while doing our work trying to protect the public."

The source said managers had made some attempts for staff to work at a safe distance from each other but the measures were impractical because of the number of workers involved in tackling the crisis.

"They put stickers on every other desk saying 'do not use' but it doesn't work because there are too many people and the shifts are constantly changing.

"It's pretty pathetic and nothing has changed since lockdown.

"Morale has been low and I dread going to work every day because of this.

"The problem has been raised with management.

"They are saying there is not enough room, that they are trying to make arrangements for us but that it is a slow process.

"Our biggest fear is if someone tests positive for coronavirus and the pressure it could place the call handling system."

According to the source, around 120 members of staff are working at the centre across three shifts throughout the day.

"We are hot-desking so you sit at whatever desk is available each shift. We have been told we are responsible for sanitising our own desks.

"Some staff have arranged for their children to go live with other relatives because they are so worried about bringing the virus home after a shift."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "The health and safety of officers and staff is really important.

"Our call centre staff provide an essential service and while distancing within the call centre may have been less than two metres initially, we acted on revised guidance from the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and have moved call centre staff further apart to ensure the two metres is observed.

"Some have been moved to other locations to enable this to happen.

"We continue to follow guidance from the NPCC and Public Health England (PHE) and to engage with staff associations to address their members’ concerns."

Rachel Dix, regional organiser of the GMB union, said: "West Yorkshire Police, like others organisations, faced the problems of assessing health and safety issues that arose from the crisis of Covid-19.

"Our GMB reps have been proactive in raising concerns on behalf of employees, especially around social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) provisions, as well as examining and then pushing for new improved cleaning regimes in the call centre'.

"All parties are open to ideas to improve working conditions further and to raise the bar higher.

"GMB members are encouraged regularly to bring any concerns to their reps.

"These are worrying times and we want to reassure staff that they have been and will continue to be listened to."

GMB police staff branch secretary Paul Rhodes said: "West Yorkshire Police are responding well to any concerns raised by our union reps and as much as possible are working with us to create extra areas for staff to work in and to aid the safe distancing as set out in both PHE and government guidelines.

"Our local branch is also working with GMB national office and GMB police service branches across the country to highlight concerns and share good practices.

"West Yorkshire Police hold regular meetings with us in a constantly changing environment, and act on wider changes that are required to ensure safer working practices."

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