#EssexUnites

In his message recorded yesterday (April 23), Roger sends everyone good wishes for St George’s Day and the first day of Ramadan. He also thanks teachers, young people and those who are home schooling for their efforts. He also gives an update on the work we are doing within the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s Office to keep the county safe and offer support to organisations who have been impacted by the Coronavirus.

Roger has a weekly briefing with Kit Malthouse MP, Minister for Policing and the Fire Service. Roger also receives regular updates from leaders from Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.

Watch the video message here: https://youtu.be/rPU-vZZzfeE

A full transcript of the update is below.

“Hello, I’m Roger Hirst, your Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. St George’s Day today and the first day of Ramadan so I’d like to wish all our communities every good wish that I can for these festivals.

“Of course, it was back to school this week and I think it is important to say thank you to all those hard-working teachers who are in schools looking after the children of our key workers, making sure they are safe so their parents can carry out those vital frontline roles. Also, I’d like to say well done to all of you who are home schooling as well as working, it is very difficult, and we should not underestimate how tricky it can be. I also think the children and young people deserve a special mention themselves. Well done to everyone who’s continuing to learn, supporting their friends and family and of course giving a much welcome boost to our frontline workers with their wonderful pictures. I know our police and fire service colleagues love seeing your pictures of our ex police dog Baloo and the rainbows and the pictures of the firefighters. Keep being creative and mums and dads look out for the designs on social media, you might get a few moments to yourself while they are occupied.

“This week I want as well to focus on some of the updates, particularly from the Office of the PFCC, my own office. We announced that working with the Essex Community Foundation we’re making £150,000 from our Community Safety Development Fund available to groups, organisations, and charities that are struggling as a result of the impact of the Coronavirus. If you think that this money could help you or a charity group that you work with, do get in touch, via https://www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk/

“Also, Essex’s Restorative and Mediation Service operates from our office and despite the Coronavirus, it is still business as usual for them, as well as all the other services we commission to help victims. They are all being delivered slightly differently either on-line or by telephone, but we are still here for you and it’s important to get in touch if you think they can help you, now more so than ever in these times, which are so stressful and worrying.
“For obvious reasons we have not been able to hold our usual public meetings around the community like we normally do. We are working on ways to restart those as soon as possible using the sort of technology we are all getting more familiar with. We will be trialling them and are looking to do the first one in a few weeks. Please do check our social media channels for updates. It’s important you still can contact us. Let us know if you have issues in your area or your community around community safety and of course that’s now more so than ever. In the meantime, you can always contact us via email at [email protected]

“Again, thank you all for what you are doing, whether that’s staying in or working in one of our key organisations or just doing what you do. Stay In, Save the NHS, Save Lives and keep well.
Thank you.”