Covid marshals a ‘waste of money’
COUNCIL HITS BACK AT CRITICISM, STATING IT IS ‘PROUD’ OF WORK DONE DURING THE PANDEMIC
A LONDON council has said it paid £198 per shift for Covid marshals to patrol the streets, even after restrictions had been eased.
Westminster City Council paid a private company for Covid marshals to walk areas like Soho, despite lockdown rules being lifted.
The council said it had paid security firm McKenzie Arnold £198 per shift for each marshal in response to a Freedom of Information request
However, now the authority’s press team claims this rate was only paid until July 19, when the average cost became “significantly lower”.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked for the lower shift rate, but the council refused to reveal the figure because of “commercial sensitivity”.
The marshals were dubbed a “waste of money” when locals spotted them patrolling Chinatown and the West End in August, despite rules on social distancing and masks being eased in July.
Many restrictions were lifted in England on July 19 – nightclubs reopened, any number of people could meet indoors and table service was no longer required in pubs and restaurants.
A statement attached to the information from the council said: “We have adjusted the number of Covid marshals working on any particular day, depending on the regulations that were in place and the expected footfall within the city.
“The maximum number we have working at any one time since July 19 was 18 (on July 23 2021) while we currently have five working Monday to Thursday, 10 Friday and Saturday, and none on Sundays.”
They also said there is no fixed budget assigned to Covid marshals, but the cost was covered by part of the authority’s overall response to the pandemic, which includes testing, enforcement and vaccinations.
A council spokesperson said: “The safety of residents and visitors to the city has always been our top priority.
“Covid marshals have provided an invaluable service throughout the pandemic to keep our streets safe and we are proud of their contribution.
“Covid marshals have played a key role in the council’s response to the pandemic, supporting some of the busiest parts of the city by promoting public safety and reducing congestion in areas such as Soho where al fresco schemes are in place.
“They have also supported the council’s Covid-19 vaccination and testing efforts.”
According to its website, the McKenzie Arnold Group specialises in a range of services such as stewarding, security and event management.
A statement on McKenzie Arnold’s website says its Westminster Covid marshals were given action counter terrorism training in July 2021.
Another statement says the company also provided Westminster City Council with security staff and marshals at the Marble Arch Mound.
It says the firm worked with the council to recruit 16 members of staff to join its team at the mound in July.
McKenzie Arnold refused to comment when approached by the LDRS.
The council says the Covid Marshal programme has now ended, but it has a small number of ‘Soho Marshals’ who are deployed in Soho while the al fresco dining scheme continues.