Federation chair urges public to work with the police
24 November 2020
West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon Nott has warned the thin blue line is being stretched even thinner by the changes to coronavirus restrictions.
Jon says that officers are having to constantly learn and adapt as new Government rules are introduced.
And he urged the public to work with the police to prevent the spread of coronavirus and to keep people safe.
Jon said: “We would ask members of the public to continue to be supportive, as the vast majority of people have been, and realise this is an extremely challenging period for frontline officers.
“Policing in the West Midlands is already stretched due to the pandemic and because crime rates have returned to pre-Covid-19 levels.
“My colleagues are also having to deal with the unprecedented challenges this virus poses to our home and family lives. Like everyone, we’ll have to work out what the new restrictions mean when they come into force next week and my colleagues will continue to do their utmost to protect the public in their usual professional manner.
“We would urge people to continue working with us to protect and save lives.”
Jon’s comments came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night set out a new three-tier system of Covid-19 restrictions for England.
The regional rules will replace the current national measures and are set to run from 3 December until spring.
The Government will announce which areas of England will be in which tiers on Thursday, but more areas are expected to be placed into the higher tiers.
Ché Donald, national vice-chair of the Police Federation, said the new rules could be difficult to enforce, particularly if there’s a relaxation over Christmas.
“Police officers are human beings who are doing an extraordinary job in extraordinary circumstances,” he said, “However, a potential short-term relaxation of Covid-19 regulations and a return to the tier system represents a unique challenge and will be next to impossible to police.
“We will not be trying to spoil people’s fun or ruin Christmas - we’re trying to stop this deadly virus taking more lives. The vast majority of the public understand this and support us.
“However, we’ve also been criticised by some for enforcing too much – while others have said it’s not enough. A limited break in restrictions may also introduce scenarios where travelling across the UK to visit family could be a breach of regulations one day and not the next.
“My colleagues will step up to this challenge - as they have many times since the lockdown began in March.
“But our message to the Government is police officers need clearer and more consistent rules which can be enforced fairly, and the public need clearer instructions so that they know what they are allowed to do within the law.”
