ONE in three police officers have faced members of the public believed to have covid, who threatened to cough or breathe on the frontline workers.

A Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) survey has highlighted the "harsh reality" of the health of police officers during the pandemic.

The federation says the weaponising of the virus against police officers is an emerging threat to health and welfare.

Almost one in three (32 per cent) of officers reported a member of the public who was believed to carry the virus had purposely threatened to breathe or cough on them, while nearly a quarter (24 per cent) said someone had actually done so.

A total of 28 per cent had performed Covid duties involving Covid-related deaths and other associated work.

A quarter of officers reported they believed they had contracted the virus (26 per cent), while almost half (45 per cent) of these believed it was through work-related activities.

The report also revealed officers felt undervalued for the dangerous work they do, and high levels of fatigue and occupational stress were found in the survey to be commonplace.

Mental health and wellbeing issues were highlighted by 77 per cent of police officers, and the majority (90 per cent) of these respondents indicated psychological difficulties had been caused, or made worse, by working within policing.

John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “This survey clearly shows the huge pressure officers are under policing the pandemic and the negative impact on their welfare, with half of the respondents saying they have been physically attacked and 1 in 3 having been threatened by someone claiming to have COVID.

“As well as having an incredibly challenging and demanding job and all the pressures that go with it, police officers are also human beings who are looking after kids, poorly relatives and have the same stresses as everyone else.

"This survey shows the harsh reality of policing during a period when police officers have simply done the best they could to help and protect the public.

“The results of this survey have come directly from our members - those police officers who are on the frontline dealing with whatever society throws at them. The increasing level of violence they face, especially involving the ‘weaponising’ of the virus, is a sad indictment of the society we live in.

“Government must hear them; they must be given all the protection they need to protect themselves and this includes being prioritised for the Covid vaccine. We have had enough of the warm words - we now need action.”