Crime chief hits out at those who are flouting rules
‘SMALL MINORITY NEED TO THINK ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOUR AS LIVES PUT AT RISK’
DERBYSHIRE’S police and crime commissioner has criticised those in the county who have ignored safety restrictions – saying they are putting lives at risk.
Hardyal Dhindsa spoke out after Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation after more restrictions were placed on the public to tackle coronavirus.
A second wave of infections is hitting the nation hard and cases in Derbyshire are on the rise.
Mr Dhindsa said he was “disappointed” more restrictions were being placed on Derbyshire residents and called out the “small minority” who are not helping the situation.
He said: “I would like to thank the vast majority of Derbyshire residents who have painstakingly followed the guidance.
“They have helped to curb the spread of this virus to date. Now they are being asked to do more and I am sure for the good of us all they will do that.”
But he added: “I would also like to ask the small minority who seek to ignore the restrictions to think about their behaviour, which is putting lives at risk.
“We are in this together, and it is only if we act together that we will limit the spread of Covid-19 and see a return to some semblance of normality in the months to come.”
Good Morning Britain’s Dr Hilary Jones has predicted that stricter lockdown measures will be coming to the UK in just two weeks time.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced stricter face mask rules, a 10pm curfew for bars, pubs and restaurants and urged people to o work from home where possible. sible.
Meanwhile, the fines for breaking ng the rules will l also increase to £200 on the first offence.
But when asked whether he thought the restrictions would make a difference, Dr
Hilary said: “We’re We’re going to see cases ases rise anyway, even if all these measures were adhered to by the letter of the law today.
“There’s always a lag period between measures being put in place and what happens, so we’re going to see cases rise anyway in the next two weeks. But they’re going to rise after that and then I think we’ll have to increase the restrictions.”
He added: “I don’t think they [the new restrictions] will make a massive difference.”
Mr Johnson said he was reluctant to tighten restrictions and said: “If we were forced into a new ew national lockdown, that would uld threaten not just jobs and livelielihoods, but the loving human conntact on which we all depend.
“It would mean renewed lonelieliness and confinement for the he elderly and vulnerable. It would uld ultimately threaten, again, the he education of our o children.” Meanwh Meanwhile 50 MPs are suppor supporting a charity’s y’s call for a national nal day da of reflection on to mark the loss oss of life during ng the coronavirus us pandemic.
Former Conservative s cabinet ne ministers Esther Esth McVey and Stephen Steph Crabb, former Labour La shadow chancellor John McDonnell, and ex-Lib Dems leader Tim Farron are all backing the call. Since March 23, the end of life charity Marie Curie estimates that 1.4 million people have experienced a bereavement in England and Wales, based on research suggesting each death leaves an average of five people bereaved. The charity says there is “desperate need” for a memorial day on March 23, 2021, the first anniversary of the lockdown, so the UK can unite to remember those who have died and support their loved ones.
We’re going to see cases rise even if all these measures were adhered to today.
Dr Hillary Jones