Officers on Covid patrol in Weymouth reveal impact of pandemic

The Dorset Echo was invited to go out on a socially distanced patrol with the police to see first hand how they are engaging with the public and enforcing Covid rules during the third national lockdown.

Two officers walked up and down the Esplanade chatting to members of the public and explaining the lockdown rules to those who were not following them.

One of the officers responsible for enforcing Covid rules explained how he spent four months of the first lockdown living in a caravan in his garden for fear he would spread the virus to his family.

During the day, a group of five young boys on bikes and skateboards were dispersed from outside Weymouth Pavilion, where one boy admitted he lived in Portland and had travelled via bus. Officers advised him he should stay in his local area to exercise and that by using public transport he was putting both himself and other bus users in danger of catching and spreading the virus.

A couple who were sat on a bench drinking coffee were also moved along after officers chatted with them about the Covid rules and answered questions about what it means to stay 'local'.

While no fines were given out during the day of town patrols, police report 150 fines have been given out across Dorset since the start of the third lockdown out of a total of 1,010 since the pandemic began.

This includes two car loads of tourists who were given fines after they drove from Coventry to the Lulworth Estate earlier this month. The group were issued Covid-19 Fixed Penalty Notices and instructed to return home in an approximate 340-mile round trip.

Dorset Police recorded 476 Covid related incidents last week - an increase of 16 per cent compared to the previous week - where members of the public had contacted them after seeing others breaching the rules.

Chief Constable James Vaughan said: "The number of reports we are receiving of people breaching Covid rules is steadily increasing week on week, but the number of fines being handed out remains fairly constant.

"I think this is because people are losing patience and are more willing to phone up when the see a breach, it is not because more people are breaking the rules."

While engaging with the public, officers kept more than two metres away and wore masks, however, social distancing is not always possible, for example when someone has to be arrested.

Last week, a Dorset Police officer, who tested positive for Covid-19 after policing an anti-lockdown rally in Bournemouth, was hospitalised.

This has led to increased calls from officers for them to be moved up the priority list for getting the coronavirus vaccine.

Police Constable Charlie Forsey told how he isolated from his own family for months during the first lockdown due to fears of picking up the virus at work and then spreading it to his family.

He said: "I was so worried I would pick up the virus while I was working and then take it home to my partner and three kids so I moved out of my home and into the caravan to protect them.

"My partner is an end of life care provider so I was terrified of giving it to her and then her passing it onto her clients so we made the decision together that I should not come into the house.

"I could still wave at my children through the window but I wasn't able to give them a cuddle for the whole time which was really tough. However, I knew that I was making the decision to keep them safe so it was an easy choice to make."

PC Forsey moved back into his home when restrictions were eased in the summer but he thinks he may have to move back into the caravan as the infection rate remains high in Dorset.

Sargeant Dan Galloway is hopeful that the government will consider vaccinating police officers as a priority once the current at risk groups, including people aged over 80 and care home workers, have been vaccinated.

He said: "If we were given the vaccine then it would alleviate a lot of the stress that we are all feeling while we go out to work.

"It is not possible for us to socially distance the whole time we are working so we are at an increased risk of contracting the virus which is quite scary.

"I would like us as frontline workers to be prioritised. We don't want to cut in front of other people who are in need but I do think that it would make us all feel a lot safer while we continue to do our jobs."