City of London Police officer visits Downing Street to receive a thank you for his efforts in the pandemic response

3 August 2021

A City of London Police officer who nearly died after contracting COVID-19 has attended a Downing Street reception to thank police officers for their efforts in the pandemic response.

DC Steven Bailey fell ill in March 2020 and was put into an induced coma. His kidneys failed and he spent two months in hospital. He still suffers from health issues related to COVID, including a compromised immune system, and will be on blood thinners and beta blockers for the rest of his life.

Steven said he had been both nervous and proud to attend the reception on 27 July, one of a series hosted for public sector workers, saying it was “an honour”. Steven also appreciated the opportunity to meet other police officers from around the country who have dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic in different ways.

Steven said he was keen to support colleagues in similar situations by setting up a COVID peer support group for City London Police.

He said: “Although we’ve got a welfare department, there wasn’t anything specific towards aftercare for people that have had COVID or long COVID. So I’m setting that up and on the back of that I’ve been working with the Met’s COVID peer support group, to find out how they run theirs and then do a similar thing for the City.

“The force is having so many people coming forward to say either how badly COVID has affected them or is still affecting them through long COVID, other health conditions, or mental health conditions.”

The reception was the most mixing Steven had done since he fell ill, as he has only been back to the office twice since having COVID.

He said: “I’m starting on a phased return to the office now, so I do one day a week. I go up on my motorbike first thing in the morning so I’m there for an early turn, from 7 to 3. I miss all the traffic, I go into a COVID-secure office, having had my lateral flow test, and everyone else in the office has to do those as well because I still have a compromised immune system.”

Steven said he hoped he could “fill the gap” of welfare help and information available to officers affected by COVID-19.

Mike Reed, Chairman of The City of London Police Federation, said: “Steven is a hero and an inspiration to many. He deserved his day at Downing Street to say thanks.

“In truth he is representing all of our hard working City of London Police colleagues who have stepped up without question to support this country throughout the past 18 months of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are proud of them all.”