Devon and Cornwall Police get over £700k to help enforce Covid laws

Cornwall Council is also getting over £300k

Author: Sarah YeomanPublished 9th Oct 2020

Devon and Cornwall Police is set to receive just over £700,000 to help enforce coronavirus laws.

Meantime Cornwall Council will get £304,290.

The money part of a £60m funding boost from the government to allow police forces and local councils to step up patrols in town centres.

It will also go towards ensuring the public are complying with new restrictions, such as like wearing face coverings and self-isolating when required.

Police will also provide more support to local authorities and NHS Test & Trace to enforce self-isolation requirements.

Local councils will use the funding to increase their compliance work and enforcement checks on businesses.

The government says that local councils play a central role in ensuring compliance with COVID-19 guidance in their local communities.

Enforcement officers such as Environmental Health Officers are responsible for explaining and encouraging businesses and communities to follow the latest guidelines, carrying out inspections, issuing fines and closing premises in the case of non-compliance.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

"The vast majority of the British public has come together, followed the law and helped prevent the spread of this virus.

"But we’ve been clear that, with infections rising, we will not allow a small minority of people to reverse our hard-won progress.

"This extra funding will strengthen the police’s role in enforcing the law and make sure that those who jeopardise public health face the consequences."

The government will also publish new guidance outlining the types of compliance and enforcement activities councils could carry out using the £30 million funding. This includes covering costs associated with stepping up enforcement activity, measures to help the public and businesses to understand the latest regulations and funding the cost of dedicated staff to encourage compliance with the rules, including marshals.

Marshals, or stewards and ambassadors as they are referred to in some areas, have already been rolled out successfully by many councils to help businesses and communities to follow the latest guidelines, freeing up the police and other enforcement officers such as environmental health officers.