The new and highly contagious coronavirus variant has pushed policing in Surrey to a critical point.

Surrey's officers are feeling the pressure more than ever, and the chief constable is pleading with people to stay at home, as the infection rate in the county rose by nearly half in just seven days.

County council data shows the number of cases per 100,000 population for the week up to 1st January was 738.1, while the previous week it was 504.1, a 46% rise.

"Please, please, please, do stay at home," said CC Gavin Stephens.

"Yes, to protect the NHS, but also to protect other public services from this new strain of the virus, so collectively we can all save lives; sadly we've lost far too many already."

The percentage of all coronavirus tests performed that are positive, indicating how widespread infection is in an area, has increased across all areas of Surrey in the last few days. In Spelthorne, one in four tests is positive, according to Surrey Police.

"We used to think that one in 10 was a high number," said CC Stephens.

"It is much more serious than the situation we were facing in October and November.

"It feels like it did back in March in terms of the impact on public services, but there's an additional challenge."

He said although the force is "still able to keep people safe and provide all the policing services", officers were "really stretched" and it was "a real hard graft" to keep on top of the variant.

CC Stephens explained measures such as perspex screens, social distancing and hand hygiene had worked well in the past, but added: "What we are now seeing is the new variant of the virus is so transmissible, even these measures are insufficient to protect the policing workforce."

More officers are off work – either infected, or self-isolating because a family member is infected, or with a caring responsibility. One of the three custody centres had to close for a few days during December due to infection rates.

The force's team managing the bereavement process has had to double in size.

Constantly having to adapt to new regulations is also taking its toll emotionally on police officers.

"We're resilient and we can cope with lots of changes but sometimes there's just one change too much. I've certainly felt close to tears at times and other colleagues have too," said CC Stephens.

"I don't mind saying from a personal perspective, over Christmas and New Year, I was absolutely exhausted. I felt like I'd done two years worth of work in one."

He said the teamwork and partnership with other public services helped to keep their motivation up. "It's that sort of mutual care for each other that really gets us through," he said.

"Officers are used to putting themselves in harm's way, as a matter of routine. Our colleagues get injuries, cuts and bruises, and they take those things home. But this is different.

"We're dealing with people up close and personal, in confrontational situations, and that means we're potentially taking the virus home to our families as well."

The force's policy is to engage, explain, encourage, and enforce as a last resort. But CC Stephens said there should be no need for explanation anymore, as the rules now are clear – stay at home.

Surrey Police has issued 572 fixed penalty notices since March 27, mostly for people gathering in excess of permitted numbers.

They include two £10,000 tickets, for a 60-strong house party in Cobham on December 20, and a gathering of more than 30 at a Kingswood address on January 2.

Fines start at £200. "Really it shouldn't be the financial deterrent that puts people off," said CC Stephens.

"It should be those stories that we're all seeing on the news now, heartbreaking stories about what this virus is doing to families."