We know you will continue to do the right thing – A Christmas Message from PFCC Roger Hirst
“The festive season is now upon us and I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for Christmas and the New Year.
“2020 has been an extremely difficult year, the pandemic has affected us all, having a big impact on our health, our businesses and of course financially.
“The news this weekend that most of Essex is now in a Tier 4 area and that our planned Christmas celebrations will have to change will have come as a blow to us all. But we have got to protect our families and friends and all those who are dear to us. Remember hands, face, space.
“It’s Christmas and we want to celebrate but we have to follow the restrictions. During the pandemic, you, the people of Essex, have worked so hard to keep people safe and we have no doubt that you will continue to do what we all need to do and the police will continue with their approach of engage, explain, encourage and only then enforce. We know the majority of you, as you have before, will continue to do the right thing.
“Throughout this year, many religious festivals and events have had to be celebrated in a different way but the common thread among them is that we show appreciation and kindness to each other and the best way of doing that is to do what we need to do now to stop the spread of the virus.
“On that note, please also show appreciation and kindness to all of our frontline workers and members of the emergency services who have worked so hard this year and will continue to do over Christmas, they won’t be spending time with their families but will be working hard to care for us and keep us safe and they deserve our respect and thanks. It saddened me recently to hear that police officers in our county have been assaulted and injured whilst carrying out their duties. That to me is very abhorrent. Police officers and firefighters put their lives on the line every day for us, walking towards danger to keep us safe and we have campaigned for changes in legislation to ensure tougher penalties for those who have been convicted of assaulting members of the emergency services.
“Despite all of the challenges I’m really proud of the way Essex has come together during 2020. When the going gets tough, Essex unites and working across the piece, the county has supported each other, you’ve supported each other, doing our absolute best to save lives and protect the NHS. We hope you will be joining us on Christmas Eve when we come together as a county to say a big festive thank you to all of our local heroes on our doorsteps at 6 o’clock by ringing a bell or expressing your gratitude in any other way you fancy.
“Very best wishes for Christmas everyone.”
