Cops, Corona and CoVidiots

The coronavirus pandemic has created new challenges for policemen and women across the world.

Punitive methods such as fines, force and detention are commonly used to deal with those who flout Covid restrictions in their area. We see footage of American police using lung and eye irritants and rough treatment even of journalists, Indian policemen using batons and Chinese, Brazilian and Russian police forcing people into detention.

In some countries like India, police have also used novel nonviolent methods such as giving roses and making people do squats and pushups in public. The most unusual was in the northern Indian town of Rishikesh where a group of police were filmed making international tourists write ‘I am sorry’ 500 times as punishment after breaching coronavirus lockdown rules! We don’t know who provided the paper and how effective these methods have been but they have made entertaining viewing in these grim times.

In many parts of the world police are using traditional and modern forms of song and dance to educate, entertain and assist those in need.

Mexican police use traditional Mariachi, one of the country’s most iconic musical genres.

With more employees heading back to the workplace in Queensland, Hendra police have put together a catchy tune to demonstrate social distancing measures its officers have put in place.

New Zealand Police have collaborated with Wellington Paranormal to create a series of light-hearted videos addressing the importance of locking down properly.In the most recent instalment, the “Acclaimed World Hit Two Metres Please” is performed by Officer O’Leary, played by actor Karen O’Leary.“Two metres please, two metres please, I don’t want to breathe your Covid, if you start to wheeze,” she sings.

In the United Kingdom, more than four million people have watched PC Tim Jones perform a song from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, while dressed in his police uniform. Interestingly, Tim could not make it into his school choir as a child and only returned to singing at the age of 30.

A Croswell-Lexington school resource officer is using his voice to help others in need during the coronavirus pandemic. Erik Wurmlinger is producing online concerts to raise money for either a family in need or another charitable organization, such as a food pantry.

Police in other countries have also helping those in need.

These are good points to remember, keeping in mind police are also at risk of contracting the virus. Sometimes they also face violence from annoyed citizens, including one policeman in India who had his hand cut off by a swordwielding citizen objecting to the hard lockdown. Fortunately, the officer’s hand has been reattached and the assailant arrested.

Sometimes the public gives back. Bollywood stars have donated their luxury trailers - equipped with baths and beds, soaps, sanitisers, sanitary pads and also biscuits- where they relax and prepare for movie shoots to provide relief to female police officers on coronavirus lockdown duty in India’s financial hub Mumbai. Very essential given the heat and shortage of toilet facilities for women in general and the policewomen in particular, given some of them are on duty for 24 hours at a stretch!