A tribunal has heard that an officer working for Gwent Police, who was living with HIV, was made to feel “like a walking disease”.
The officer, who has not been named for privacy reasons, received his HIV diagnosis whilst undergoing training in 2024. After attending an occupational therapy session with a nurse he was recommended to take time off to deal with his diagnosis.
Later, when seeing his HIV specialist he was told that he would not need to be removed from frontline duties and could “continue his role as normal” – given the fact that he had started treatment and was expected to have an undetectable viral load (VL) shortly.
Gwent Police‘s occupational health team informed the officer that he would be placed on “restricted duties” until his VL and CD4 count could be ascertained. The officer said that he “could not understand” why the force made this decision.
A subsequent meeting with another member of Gwent Police’s health team resulted in the officer being “wholly inappropriate” questions – including deeply personal questions about his sex life and practices. When asked why this was relevant to his role as a police officer he was told it was in order to protect “colleagues and members of the public, from an officer whose viral load remains detectable”.
Following these meetings it was decided that the officer would remain on “restricted duties”, something that the officer said made him feel like a “walking disease” and “isolated” at work.
The officer added:
“It felt as though they did not know what to do in situations where an officer had been diagnosed with HIV, so panicked and made the decision to restrict me.”
Tribunal judge H J Randall, ruling in favour of the officer, told the tribunal:
“The treatment involved a complete expulsion of the claimant from carrying out his role because of his HIV-positive status and unfounded fears surrounding transmission of the virus.”
“It was treatment which isolated and separated him from colleagues, effectively shunning him.”
The claimant was awarded £40,200 for injury to feelings, as well as accrued interest of £2,927.
Deputy Chief Constable Brain commented on the ruling:
“In this case, we recognise that we got this wrong and acknowledge the significant impact that this has had on the officer.”
“We are in the process of implementing several learning measures identified as part of this judgement,” he said, adding that this included HIV training for all officers and staff as well as additional training for occupational health practitioners.
People living with HIV have been able to serve in the police, including frontline roles, since the Equalities Act 2010 came into force. The Act made it illegal to refuse employment or restrict duties based solely on HIV status.
External link to tribunal report: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6990b37b43eb912f2e15b44b/6010112.2025_X_v_The_Chief_Constable_of_Gwent_Police___Sue_Barlow_Judgment.pdf
