Marshals told to film distancing breaches with body cameras

COVID marshals have been ordered to target weddings, parties, pubs and restaurants, wearing body-mounted cameras to take evidence of breaches, under new government guidelines.

The marshals, whom the Government suggests should have security guard training, will be expected to call in police or council officers to enforce any breaches at premises they visit.

Nicknamed “Covid Wombles”, they will be given a checklist of measures to ensure compliance in restaurants, pubs, bars, takeaways, shops, tourist attractions, “close contact services” such as hairdressers and nail bars and “wedding receptions and celebrations”.

The Government suggests that council marshals could operate a yellow card system, where they issue up to two warnings before businesses face fines or even closure. They will also be expected to prevent groups mixing in pubs, clubs and streets after the 10pm curfew, encourage social distancing in “busy nightlife areas” and tell members of the public to wear masks.

The guidelines, issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recommend that marshals should be trained in “de-escalati on t echniques” because of the potential risks of confrontations with members of the public.

The guidance identifies two grades of Covid marshal: Type 2 marshals, who will be charged with a “policing” style role and Type 1 marshals who will only be responsible for cleaning touch points, directing pedestrians through one-way systems, promoting Covid-19 secure messaging and handing out face coverings and sanitiser.

Councils have been given £30 million to recruit and train the marshals whom the Government suggests should be paid and be issued with PPE, hi-vis jackets and radio systems.

However, the guidance stresses they should not enforce social distancing, issue fines, engage physically with the public or try to restrain anyone. That remains the remit of the police and council enforcement officers.

It cites the example of Charnwood borough council, where teams of two marshals patrol streets while wearing body cameras.

“In cases of any severe breaches, the stewards informed the police directly or the council’s designated officer on duty to collate the findings,” it said.