Keeping safe as our communities reopen, happy birthday NHS and welcome to our new police officers #EssexUnites
Today, Roger talks about the reopening of pubs, restaurants and other business tomorrow, reminds people about the 72nd birthday of the NHS on Sunday and welcomes more police officers to Essex following the socially distanced ceremony that took place at Police HQ this afternoon.
Hello, I’m Roger Hirst, your Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
Tomorrow is, of course, the first day that many pubs, restaurants and other businesses will be able to reopen. Importantly, we can meet up with up other households too.
I think it will be fantastic to see other people, enjoy a drink and a meal, but I would just urge everyone, please act responsibly.
The emergency services including police, fire and our colleagues in the ambulance service are all prepared for the extra demand but let’s not use them.
It is up to everyone to act responsibly and still observe the social distancing guidance.
We have worked so hard, the majority of people have done the right thing so please let’s not risk having the restrictions placed back on us again, locally here in Essex.
We need to all make the right decisions, stay home where we can, observe two metres social distancing and if we can’t, use a face covering or other mitigation and that means just facing away from people, it can mean wearing gloves and it certainly means washing your hands frequently and wiping surfaces.
Our businesses and our communities need us to do the right thing. Many of them are opening for the first time in months. They are trying very hard to get it right. If you visit a premise and see something’s wrong, tell them, offer advice and use your own common sense to keep yourself safe. It is our own responsibility; I’ll say it again, to look after ourselves and the people we care about.
So, there is some good news to highlight this week. Sunday is of course the NHS 72nd birthday! So, let’s all say a big thank you then to all those people in the health services who have been working so hard and of course some of them have put their lives on the line during the pandemic.
Today, as well a bit more good news is that two new intakes of police officers – 58 of them – have passed out at Essex Police HQ, of course in a socially distanced ceremony. More officers are coming to our communities to help make us all safe and cementing our commitment in our police and crime plan to more visible, local and accessible policing. Congratulations to all those new officers and I personally wish you all the very best as you start your policing careers.
Thank you all. Keep safe, think of others, and don’t be a link to pass on the virus!
