POLICE chiefs in Cheshire are furious the government has ignored appeals to vaccinate frontline officers at risk of catching Covid.

They want officers prioritised for jabs and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to reconsider its decision announced today that the roll-out of the over 50s is to continue by age group.

At least 22 police officers and staff, including a Cheshire officer, have lost their lives to Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, while many more have been hospitalised and are still suffering the long-term effects of the disease.

Cheshire Police and Crime commissioner David Keane claims criminals in Cheshire are using Civid-19 as "a weapon" by coughing and spitting at officers. There have been 126 such incidents in Cheshire since last March.

Mr Keane has written to Boris Johnson calling for an urgent U-turn, saying the move is a "betrayal", a "failure to protect dedicated public servants" and the decision that would "never be forgiven".

In letter to the PM he says: "Police officers and staff put themselves and their families at risk everyday by working in close contact with those who may be carrying the virus. But you have let them down by your failure to protect them through the vaccination programme.

"The risks associated with frontline policing and contracting the virus are grave. The nature of policing means officers have to get up close and personal with members of the public.

"We're seeing Covid-19 increasingly used as a weapon on our streets with recorded incidents of offenders spitting or coughing at officers increasing.

"Sending our officers into these situations without appropriate protection against Covid-19 is equivalent to sending them into a public disorder incident without riot gear."

The police commissioner added: "This isn't about police officers jumping the queue. We all need access to the vaccine in order to beat this public health emergency. But it is a failure that your current prioritisation programme puts someone who can work from home as a priority above those serving the public on the frontline.

"I urge you to stop betraying our hardworking frontline police officers and staff and reduce the risk of them catching this deadly disease and spreading it vulnerable people in our communities, putting even greater strain on our already stretched public services."

Cheshire Chief Constable Darren Martland said: "Often, by the very nature of their role, officers and staff are unable exercise social distancing and PPE can be compromised, which is why I would request that police officers and front line staff are prioritised for vaccination, after the elderly and people who are clinically vulnerable."