Police chief says fears over pubs had proved unfounded

CONCERNS AHEAD of the first weekend of pubs reopening proved largely unfounded, with some not reopening and others restricting hours, a police chief has told councillors.

Chief Supt Darren Downs told an East Riding Council scrutiny committee police will continue drafting in extra officers to police bars and pubs in the coming weeks.

He warned they will be checking for drugs and doing test alcohol purchases. Chief Supt Downs said: “The first weekend wasn’t quite what we thought it could have been.

“Not all pubs have opened and a lot are restricting their hours and that’s around wages and what is financially viable.

“A lot are closing at 10pm and 11pm. We are putting a lot of extra resources in and I think between now and the end of August we will see footfall in city centres increase as pubs open up more.

“The general intelligence is suggesting that they (people) are going to give it few weeks before they start venturing out.”

At the beginning of lockdown police were getting 900 reports a day of people flouting the rules.

Officers were sent to addresses, which were the subject of repeated complaints, but they had tried to “educate and engage” with enforcement used as a last resort.

He paid tribute to frontline officers, who had proved “phenomenally resilient” and had “no fear” despite incidents, including within the last 24 hours, of two people coughing in officers’ faces claiming they had the virus.

Surprisingly sickness levels have fallen.

Some staff are working from home, but he thinks increased hygiene may be stopping the usual spread of flus and colds.