Kent officers preparing for chaotic few months as lockdown restrictions ease across the country

12 April 2021

Kent Police Officers are bracing themselves to deal with a potentially chaotic few months after lockdown.

This summer is set to be a hectic one for officers with a huge number of events and an easing of lockdown measures all coming to a boil, Kent Police Federation has said.

The reopening of the night-time economy, increased civil unrest in cities across the country, the Euro football championship, the G7 and COP26 summits and the return of warmer weather are all adding to the apprehension felt by officers as they prepare for the unprecedented challenges to come.

“The public letting off steam is going to take many forms, whether it is the night-time economy suddenly picking back up again or a really nice spell of weather leading to more daytime drinking, more outside activity and potentially more protests,” Kent Police Federation Chair Neil Mennie said.

“Hopefully, people will be sensible, but it’s not unreasonable to expect there’s probably going to be a bit of a spike in those types of policing and public order, and there is some apprehension about it.”

Neil said it’s imperative unlocking measures are not rushed and that people don’t think they can dispense with the rules and regulations that remain in place.

That’s to protect their own safety and to ensure policing is not placed under impossible demand.

“We have been able to deploy officers specifically to look at COVID and COVID restrictions, but obviously, we’re only going to be able to look at the more serious breaches, and it’s important that people don’t rush to unlock,” Neil said.

“There is a phased approach. We wouldn’t want to see people running before they can walk and creating policing issues because they haven’t got the patience to follow the unlocking stages, assuming they all take place on time and according to the unlock plan.

“We have to be prepared for the fact it could go the other way. Hopefully, it won’t, but it’s important that everyone’s patient and then hopefully that way it’ll minimise the impact on members trying to do their policing.”

And while officers won’t be able to enjoy themselves quite as much as the general public, they must try and get the rest they need. Not just to recuperate from what has been an unprecedented past year but also to prepare themselves for the significant challenges to come.

“Police officers are well used to having to face challenges, particularly with things such as the night-time economy,” Neil said.

“It’s been a long period when no-one, including officers, have been able to get the rest they need and the break they need and to be able to take part in activities like all of us want to be able to do.

“They need to try and get some rest and do the things that they enjoy doing, just to get a good work/life balance, and that’s going to be difficult going forward, and we just hope that they’re able to adjust and get the refreshment and rest they need in order to police.”

Another issue thrown up by the pandemic is that there is now a batch of new recruits across the country who will never have policed the night-time economy and dealt with the unique challenges it can bring.

With drinkers and revellers poised to make the most of lockdown easing, it could be a baptism of fire for the new officers.

“You could argue that this period of policing has been somewhat artificial in that there have been things missing like the night-time economy,” Neil said.

“However, the rest of policing, including domestic violence and all the rest of it, has actually increased and has continued to be a priority for the force.

“I think we’re heavily reliant on our more experienced colleagues to tutor and bringing on those newer officers who may not have experienced some of the areas of policing that we do routinely do, such as night-time economy and public order.

“I think they’ll be prepared for that, and the more experienced officers hopefully will be able to help them deal with those other elements of policing they may have missed out on.”

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