POLICE have revealed the extend of the toll that the pandemic has taken on their team.

Despite taking precautions, officers in the Ribble Valley have reported that at one point between 60 and 70 per cent of officers and staff were hit by coronavirus.

A police spokesperson said: “Unfortunately we proved that police officers and staff are not immune to Covid despite taking all the precautions we could.

“At one point we had lost 60 to 70 per cent of the team to the illness and a couple of the guys were very ill indeed and are still recovering several weeks on.

“We obviously hope for full recoveries and boots back in the parade room as soon as possible.

“I am pleased to say that the remaining officers did their communities proud and dealt with the extra demand placed upon them without complaint and that we had the valued support of our response police colleagues from over the hill.”

Despite this, Ribble Valley police say that they have managed to continue their operations, including several arrests for burglary and theft over the last week.

The spokesperson said: “In recent weeks we have sadly dealt with tragedies, violent incidents and increases in acquisitive crime.

“It is clear that many are pre-empting the easing of lockdown and we are seeing that reflected in our workload.

“I am pleased to say there have been some great results recently, two burglars were arrested, interviewed and charged following a crime wave in Longridge.

“A male was arrested on Saturday morning in Clitheroe and another male is to be arrested following a number of thefts, burglaries and a damage offence overnight on Thursday. We managed to return much of the recovered property to happy owners which is always a great result.

“Following some excellent investigative policing, three males were arrested after targeting vulnerable shoppers in Clitheroe. They are suspected of committing offences in Lancashire and the investigation is progressing.”