Police officers across the county have tested positive for coronavirus, as the global pandemic rages on.

A total of seven officers have been confirmed to have Covid-19, with one being treated in hospital for the illness.

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Some 24 additional officers are also having to self-isolate with symptoms, but have not yet been tested.

Chief constable Alan Pughsley said: "I'm afraid we've had seven officers diagnosed with the Covid-19 virus, one of them is still in hospital and we wish him well.

"He's not in intensive care, and we hope he's home very soon."

Despite the virus hitting police officers, those who have tested positive and those with suspected coronavirus only represent a small number of the overall police force.

The police chief said: "Only 4% of my workforce are currently away from work, whether that's sickness or self-isolating."

That is around the same percentage of the county's firefighters who are also self-isolating.

"I'm not surprised by it but it inspires me everyday of the week."

It comes as Kent Police wait for a testing facility to be made available to officers.

CC Pughsley said although he would like to be able to test his officers immediately, he understands other emergency service staff need to have access to testing first.

He said: "I'm afraid there are some other emergency workers who need it before us - those in hospitals absolutely need it first I think.

"It's right that we get it, and right that we're waiting for it."

He added: "We believe testing is coming to us pretty soon, we're hoping we'll have a full testing facility within the next 7-10 days or so.

"That'll be good for the officers and of course good for the public we're protecting."

Despite the majority complying with the lockdown restrictions, there has been an increase in the number of people flouting the measures.

CC Pughsley said: "The fixed penalty notices have now gone up to about 53 over the period of Covid-19, so has gone up significantly in the last week or so.

"Of those three incidents were of people coming from London to come to the beach.

"We tell them not to and we find them on the beach fishing later on."

Despite the fines, crime overall has significantly dropped during the pandemic.

Shoplifting has fallen by 54% in England and Wales, with almost all other offences also dropping dramatically.

Robbery has fallen by 27%, rape by 37%, burglary by the same amount and vehicle crime has dropped 34%.

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