Long COVID guidance for police forces

Long COVID, is a disabling consequence of infection with COVID-19 that affects approximately 2 million people living in the UK - some of whom are police personnel. This guidance aims to assist police forces to address the individual and organisational challenges of long COVID through an understanding of the current research and reviewing existing workplace support.

The guidance

The term long COVID covers a range of symptoms that are probably the manifestation of one or more syndromes. Whilst there is still a lot to learn about long COVID, what we do know is that many, previously well and physically active men and women, have had their lives disrupted, impacting on their ability to work. 

This guidance aims to assist police forces to address the individual and organisational challenges of long COVID through an understanding of the current research and reviewing existing workplace support. 

In preparing the guidance, we have reached out to police forces via a College Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE). Consequently, the guidance contains important messages that were received about life on the front line. 

It is intended that this document is used as guidance – it is not a set of rules. Every long COVID sufferer, in each of the UK police forces, is unique and it is an important principle that their individual story be listened to and heard. 

The response to that story and the formulation of a support plan should incorporate the unique circumstances that are presented.

This document contains a framework that forces may use to facilitate a consistent organisational approach that takes account of each individual assessment. It goes without saying that such an approach, whilst described in the context of long COVID, could also very well apply more generally to the support of anyone with a long-term condition that impacts on ability to work. 

You can read and download the full guidance document using the link below.