Drones may blare out public information messages in Northamptonshire says Chief Constable
Northamptonshire’s Chief Constable says drones blaring out public information messages could be used to help with enforcement during the coronavirus crisis.
Nick Adderley also says he would be willing to put police officers into supermarkets if needed to deal with the grocery stockpiling but says he will draw the line at putting pensioners who refuse to self-isolate under house arrest.
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Hide AdAs part of the Coronavirus Bill – that is expected to become law at the end of the month – police will be given new emergency powers to help them guarantee public safety and maintain law and order.
The social distancing measures and self-isolation advice from the Government is currently advisory but if the UK follows the lead of some other European countries an enforced lock down with the majority of people banned from the streets could be on its way.
Chief Constable Adderley says his plan is to increase his force’s number of drones to eight and residents could see them flying over the Northamptonshire skies in the weeks and months to come.
He said: “My ask is that we purchase a further six drones and what we could do is use them to put out public information messages. What is becoming really clear is that the public appetite for information is insatiable and this would be a good and cost effective way to do it.”
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Hide AdHe said the drones could also be used if an enforced lockdown comes into survey hotspots where people are not obeying the law.
Public disorder associated with panic buying is on his radar and he said he is willing to deploy officers to maintain law and order.
He said: “If supermarkets ask for assistance from the police to make sure public order is maintained, then we will provide that. We cannot have a situation where the vulnerable are unable to get food. What I’m hearing from the distributors is there is plenty of stock out there so people do not need to stockpile.”
The coronavirus bill could give police the power to put those who do not obey orders to self-isolate under house arrest but the chief constable says he will not use such a power.
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Hide AdHe said: “That is not going to happen, that is not a reality. We don’t want police officers rolling on the floor with pensioners who will not go home.”
Mr Adderley said there was plenty of protective equipment available for his staff who had to come into contact with someone who has coronavirus.
The Northamptonshire force has been hit by a number of staff self-isolating in the past weeks taking staff levels down by ten per cent but he says numbers are now higher with just 36 police officers down.
He paid tribute to the work of his staff who will play a key frontline role in the county’s coronavirus emergency.
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Hide AdHe said: “I have been absolutely humbled by the absolute commitment of our staff to come together and to make the best of what we are dealing with.”
Assistant chief constable Simon Blatchly has been put in charge of the senior team dealing with the emergency and daily meetings are being held with other public sector organisations such as health and the local authorities as part of the Local Resilience Forum. Information is also coming directly down to the force from the Government’s cobra meetings.
In terms of the changing nature of crime he said the county was already seeing a rise in domestic abuse levels while shoplifting levels had dropped.
He also said a rise in cyber crime and doorstep scams was expected and people should be vigilant.
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Hide AdYesterday (March 20) Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered the closure of all bars, restaurants and leisure venues until further notice. All schools closed yesterday (March 20) and parents will be homeschooling their children from Monday (March 23rd).