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HIV risk overplayed HIV risk overplayed
(6 months later)
A police officer in your article (All in a night's work, G2, 27 March) states getting HIV or hepatitis from uncapped needles as his biggest fear. Of all the risks police officers face, some highlighted elsewhere in the article, the risk of HIV infection is by far the lowest. There has never been a recorded case of HIV transmission to a police officer carrying out their duties, and never a case of infection anywhere in the world from a discarded needle outside of a healthcare setting.A police officer in your article (All in a night's work, G2, 27 March) states getting HIV or hepatitis from uncapped needles as his biggest fear. Of all the risks police officers face, some highlighted elsewhere in the article, the risk of HIV infection is by far the lowest. There has never been a recorded case of HIV transmission to a police officer carrying out their duties, and never a case of infection anywhere in the world from a discarded needle outside of a healthcare setting.
No one doubts the police do a complex and difficult job for which they should be commended. However, as NAT (National Aids Trust) found during research into police occupational health guidance, the information and training they receive on HIV is frequently out of date and inflates the transmission risk of HIV.No one doubts the police do a complex and difficult job for which they should be commended. However, as NAT (National Aids Trust) found during research into police occupational health guidance, the information and training they receive on HIV is frequently out of date and inflates the transmission risk of HIV.
We at NAT remain concerned that these flaws in guidance and training impact on how the police treat people living with HIV and also causes unnecessary stress to the officers themselves.The government and police forces have a duty to ensure that police officers are properly trained and have accurate information about all risks, including HIV transmission.We at NAT remain concerned that these flaws in guidance and training impact on how the police treat people living with HIV and also causes unnecessary stress to the officers themselves.The government and police forces have a duty to ensure that police officers are properly trained and have accurate information about all risks, including HIV transmission.
The situation can be exacerbated by the media quoting police officers in such cases. They too have a responsibility to avoid perpetuating myths.
Deborah Jack
Chief executive, NAT		The situation can be exacerbated by the media quoting police officers in such cases. They too have a responsibility to avoid perpetuating myths.
Deborah Jack
Chief executive, NAT
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