Coronavirus: First Metropolitan Police staff member dies after contracting virus

A member of Metropolitan Police staff has died after contracting coronavirus, in the first linked death to hit Britain’s largest force.

A spokesperson said the person worked in the contact centre, which handles 999 and 101 calls from the public, other forces and dispatches police to incidents.

“It is with great sadness that we can confirm that a member of police staff working in MetCC, who had pre-existing health conditions, has died after contracting Covid-19,” a Scotland Yard spokesperson said.

“We are at this time respecting the needs of the family and not releasing a name.

“This is believed to be the first coronavirus-related death within the Metropolitan Police Service.”