Thousands of Brits have been heading the parks and beaches on this hot bank holiday weekend putting lives at risk as people are “ignoring” the governments advice by staying at home.
The Coastguard have recorded their highest daily number of calls outs, with 97 incidents on Friday, which is up by 54% of the average of 63 in April.
Matt Leat, duty commander with the Coastguard said, “People are ignoring the measures put into place by the government.
“I completely understand that the weather and the bank holiday coupled with the fact that we’ve been in this lockdown situation for just over six weeks has tempted people out to our beautiful coasts.
“However, as the government said only yesterday, it’s really vital that we all continue to observe the guidance.”
The Coastguard commander added, “Every time we get a 999 or distress call, we will always respond but the minute we send in a rescue response, we’re putting our frontline responders at risk as well as putting the NHS under avoidable pressure.
“Please, please continue to observe the #StayHomeSaveLives message, it’s still in place for a reason. Exercise locally and stretch your legs, not our resources.”
John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, hit out at Boris Johnson and said he sent the “wrong message” to the public which has caused “confusion and frustration.”
Apter said, “The moment the Prime Minister said we had reached the peak, that sent the wrong message for some that we were in the clear and clearly we are not,’ he said. ‘The longer this goes on, it is becoming more difficult to police.
“On the streets my colleagues are doing their best, but there are groups of people having picnics in the park and we are being seen as the baddies because we are asking them to move on and they are saying, “Everything is fine, we are past the peak.”’
Apter added, “When the Prime Minister said he would be making an announcement on Sunday about the lockdown, lots of assumptions were made and it has created this void of information.
“It creates confusion and frustration when people are stopped by police and its officers who are bearing the brunt of that anger.”
Leave a Comment