Public urged to stick to lockdown

5 January 2021

Members of the public must do their bit to protect the NHS and keep others safe, says the secretary of Hertfordshire Police Federation.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement of a third national lockdown last night, Al Wollaston said the police would continue to encourage people to abide by the rules and but would challenge those who flouted them.

“This pandemic remains a national crisis and we all have to do everything we can to help us come through it,” says Al, “The priority now has to be protecting the NHS which is under huge pressure as more and people contract the virus particularly as the new strain seems to be even more infectious than what we have encountered thus far.

“People must stay at home and only go out for the few exceptions allowed by the Government. Just as they have throughout, police officers will remain on the frontline of the nation’s response to the pandemic. They will engage with the public, explain the rules if necessary, encourage people to follow them and, as a last resort, they will take enforcement action.”

John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, has also asked the public to play their part in keeping each other safe.

He explained: “With the new variant of the Covid-19 virus spreading so quickly it comes as no surprise that a new lockdown has been put in place. More people are contracting the virus and more are dying from it. Our hospitals are struggling to cope: these are tough times.

“It’s essential that people heed the new rules and stay at home unless absolutely necessary. Police officers will continue to do their best in these unprecedented times but I accept these next few months are going to be difficult on an emotional, psychological and practical level. However, we must all pull together.”