Police chief tells ‘selfish minority’ of students to ‘get a grip’
PEOPLE FLOUTING RULES ON GATHERINGS ‘WILL FACE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW’
You can’t get some cancer surgery at Nottingham’s hospitals because a number of young people don’t want to think about the consequences.
THE chief constable of Nottinghamshire Police says that “reckless” behaviour won’t be tolerated as the country enters the second day of the national lockdown.
Around 100 extra officers were called in on Wednesday, November 4 to ensure that the city and town streets are patrolled on foot and by car.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford also had a strong message for those who continue to flout the rules when different households are not allowed to mix indoors or within gardens.
He said: “You can’t get some cancer surgery at Nottingham’s hospitals because a number of young people don’t want to think about the consequences.”
He said extra resources will be sent out to any calls about parties and gatherings and those who flout the rules can expect up to £10,000 fines.
Last weekend, 83 fines were handed out to young people, mainly students, who decided to hold Hallowe’en parties.
Mr Guildford said: “We are all human and we all go home to family and friends. I would very much
Craig Guildford
encourage people to act responsibility in the lockdown.
“Very few young people become ill with Covid but lots of elderly people do become ill with it and that can be seen in the hospital admissions.
“Our workforce is not made up of 21-year-old cops. We have people over 40 and people who work for us that are over 50. In the second wave, we had more people off with Covid.
“The vast majority of students are
good young people who do the right thing but sadly there is a minority who are being very selfish. We need these people to get a grip.”
Officers have also been vocal about being pulled away from fighting crime and putting criminals behind bars to attend house parties and keep the community safe from further Covid outbreaks.
Mr Guildford said there were also further pressures on the force following the terrorism threat in the country being moved to severe, following attacks in France and Austria.
“This provides further pressures upon the police service,” he added. “We have to do more activity behind the scenes.”
He added: “Please follow the guidance and we will get through this. For those not following the rules in a way that recklessly ignores everyone else you will face the full force of the law.”