Chief constable in urgent plea to keep 999 lines clear for emergencies
TOP COP IN PLEA TO ONLY USE ‘OVERWHELMED’ EMERGENCY NUMBERS FOR PROPER PURPOSES
NORTH Wales Police’s top cop has urged the public to stop bombarding the 999 and 101 lines with calls about coronavirus.
Chief constable Carl Foulkes issued the desperate plea as he revealed the force control room has been overwhelmed with people asking for advice about Covid-19.
Mr Foulkes said the volume of calls are preventing control room staff from answering genuine emergencies.
His plea comes as the government last week issued new powers to police to allow them to restrict movement, disperse groups and take enforcement action by way of fines, or arrest anyone flouting the social distancing rules.
So far, no arrests have been made in North Wales, but police say the measures are currently being considered a last resort.
For now, they are concentrating their efforts on engaging with any members of the public they see out and about to encourage them to stay at home.
The chief constable, who is keen to provide “visible leadership” to his front line officers, has been on patrols alongside them.
He said: “We are engaging with people and encouraging them to do the right thing and stay at home and will only issue fixed penalties or arrest those who don’t comply and therefore put people at risk.
“This is a challenging situation and as we need to make sure people understand the consequences of their actions.”
Mr Foulkes said during his first weekend out on patrol, he found it was mainly adults not heeding the government advice by gathering with family members in public areas, driving to North Wales for day trips or carrying out hobbies such as fishing.
Asked if he’d seen an increased number of teenagers ignoring the rules, he said: “It’s mainly the adults who should know better who are causing the problems but up to now, most have been compliant when we’ve spoken to them.
“One woman told us she just wanted to go for a drive for a few hours and some were on their way here for a holiday, which isn’t essential travel.”
Mr Foulkes said the pandemic is putting extra pressures on the force with the virus having infected some members of police staff.
He said all annual leave and training has been cancelled. Officers have also been kitted out with personal protection equipment (PPE).
“Core policing hasn’t stopped,” he said. “We are still executing warrants and carrying on with our duties but in order for us to continue to do this, we must ask members of the public to contact us via email or online rather than call 999 or 101 with concerns or questions about coronavirus.
“The most common question is people asking if they can drive somewhere to walk their dog, and the answer is no.
“It is not an essential journey and you could have an accident and tie up much-needed resources.
“We’ve had a huge amount of calls and while we genuinely understand people’s concerns and nervousness, we would please urge people to email us instead so we can get on with responding to real emergencies.”
Mr Foulkes said the force is also doing its best to protect people known to be living with domestic abuse.
“We recognise the tensions for vulnerable people while families are self isolating and we are working with other agencies and make sure we do everything we can to protect them.”
The emergency services are operating under Gold Command structure as the crisis unfolds.
Mr Foulkes said North Wales has two acting chief constables on hand – one for internal affairs such as coordinating health and social services, local authorities and making sure staff have
PPE. The other is coordinating front line officers amid what he described as one of the “biggest challenges any police officer” will ever face.
And while he admitted there might be fewer people on the streets, there are more opportunities for “virtual criminals” committing cyber crime or fraud, as well as those who target the elderly. Police are also having to prepare for people who may try to use coughing or spitting “as a weapon.”
Mr Foulkes added: “That is totally inappropriate and will be treated as an assault and will be taken very seriously.”
Referring to the increase in hostility towards shop workers and also to an incident last week where it was reported how a bus driver was spat at and threatened by a passenger, the chief constable said: “We want to support all key workers on the front line who are doing a really hard job.
“We need people to be courteous and understanding in this environment.”