POLICE are gearing up for the expected move to covid alert level 0 despite officers being "completely burned out" from the challenges of the pandemic, it has been said.

Wales is due to move to level 0, if conditions allow, from Saturday, August 7.

This will mean removing legal restrictions on the number of people who can meet indoors, all businesses and premises being able to open including nightclubs.

Mark Jones, secretary and treasurer of the North Wales Police Federation, said: "Demand is increasing immensely on police.

"We've seen the population increase dramatically as people come to North Wales on holiday.

"This adds pressure on officers who are already tired and completely burned out from a very difficult 18 months policing during the pandemic.

"We are also picking up the slack from other agencies who are struggling themselves.

"All emergency services in Wales are at breaking point and we are expecting it to get worse.

"It is a really worrying time."

Wrexham Town Sergeant David Smith said: "We have been getting a larger demand on resources from people suffering with mental health - other agencies haven't been able to get out and see them.

"Obviously we have a duty of care and we will always respond, but there's only so much we can do as police.

"Often resources are tied up because mental health suites are limited and when they're all taken, custody isn't the appropriate place for them.

"So what we do is go to the hospital but there's a massive demand on A&E so we can be waiting several hours for someone to be assessed.

"Because of lockdown people have also been self medicating with illegal drugs - that's increased.

"There is going to be a massive strain on resources after we come out of lockdown but as ever we will try to continue to respond and do the best we can."

Describing the impact the covid-19 pandemic has had on officers, he continued: "It has been a difficult time. A lot of officers say it's probably been the most testing time of their career. "We've been in the position that we are the service that's had to try and enforce it and the reason we do that is to protect people and stop the spread of the virus.

"But unfortunately we see a lot of negativity for doing that.

"There has been a lot of confusion around the guidelines as well as the tiers and being so close to the border, which just causes more confusion.

"We're looked to to enforce these guidelines but if we do, we're criticised. And if we don't, we're criticised.

"You can't win.

"It shouldn't just be for the police to enforce it - it's a global pandemic and a humanitarian issue that we should all take responsibility for."

Looking ahead, Mark Jones continued: "There is so much coming up and officers have to try and take some time off.

"But it's going to prove difficult to get time off over the summer because the demand keeps increasing.

"It is also going to be interesting to see how it will work if officers are required to self isolate - because the pandemic hasn't gone away.

"We are gearing up for the next wave.

"Covid itself is still a concern, but we are in better position now.

"A lot of officers have had their vaccine, or at least a first dose.

"But there are a lot of people out there who have not who police officers will have to come into contact with.

"Officers still have the worry of picking up the virus.

"They might not get poorly but they could have family members and children who are susceptible who are at home.

"Despite the masks and the vaccine, it is still a real threat."