Police and NHS could feel impact of pubs re-opening

29 June 2020

West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon Nott fears the police and the NHS could be left picking up the pieces at the weekend if the re-opening of the pubs in England leads to drunken disturbances.

And Jon says that, while he fully appreciates that people see the pubs opening being a significant step towards normality after the strains of three months in lockdown, the public also need to remember there are still restrictions, such as social distancing, in force.

“The Government is clearly keen to help the country come out of lockdown to get the economy going again but I think we are going to see the police service and the NHS put under huge pressure at the weekend,” Jon explains.

“Pubs are not going to be able to accommodate as many people as they did in the days before the pandemic so we are going to see people being turned away which could lead to flashpoints and then you have to consider that the party atmosphere that is slowly building already could also lead to drunk and disorderly behaviour.

“I sincerely hope that I am proved wrong but I just hope the public, who for the first two months of the pandemic stood out on their doorsteps every Thursday evening to clap the NHS and other key workers, are mindful that if there are disturbances, people could be injured and once again it will be the police, paramedics, ambulance workers, nurses and doctors who will be called upon to pick up the pieces.”

John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation, has also expressed his concerns.

“The announcement of this easing of lockdown has been done in such a way that a head of steam will be gathering between now and 4 July, which could be seen by some as a countdown to party time, which is not accurate and certainly not the message we want to send,” he said.