Letters - Thursday November 5 2020

As the Police Chiefs responsible for the North West we have seen first-hand the misery the pandemic has caused, but we have also seen great support from the majority of our communities.

We have tried to ensure we have maintained the principle of policing with consent, that sets apart policing in this country from other parts of the world. Along with police forces nationally, we have taken a very measured approach to enforcement from the start of the pandemic, recognising the restrictions placed on all our lives were unprecedented.

We used the 4E’s model of Engage, Explain, Encourage and only as a last resort Enforce, in relation to issuing Fixed Penalty Notices for breaching the Coronavirus legislation.

Sadly we have seen a minority right across the North West who seem incapable of demonstrating any civic responsibility and complying with the regulations. We know from focus groups and regional insight work the majority of the public would wish to see the Police Service taking a consistent and robust approach to enforcement. Since local restrictions have been necessary across large parts of the North West we have taken a firmer stance on enforcing the restrictions, moving more quickly to issuing Fixed Penalty Notices for those deliberately flouting the law and putting lives at risk.

As we headed into further significant restrictions from 00.01 on this morning we wanted to give these collective messages:

. To the majority of our communities who have tried so hard to comply with restrictions, please carry on. We know how hard this is, but we need to maintain that shared purpose we had in the first lockdown to defeat the virus and, ultimately, save lives.

. To the minority who feel the restrictions don’t apply to them be prepared to face the consequences of greater levels of enforcement. We will collectively target those who flout the restrictions, particularly those organising large gatherings and music events, repeatedly holding parties or deliberately causing harm to our communities by not following the restrictions, such as self-isolating where necessary.

. Where we have issued Fixed Penalty Notices a significant proportion of recipients think they can ignore them. We are therefore seeking support from Government and the Judiciary to consider how we bring these people to justice rapidly.

Let us all do everything we can to get through this most awful of times and prevent any further suffering across the North West.

Andy Rhodes, Chief Constable Lancashire Constabulary

Darren Martland, Chief Constable Cheshire Constabulary

Michelle Skeer, Chief Constable Cumbria Constabulary

Ian Hopkins, Chief Constable Greater Manchester Police

Andy Cooke, Chief Constable Merseyside Police

Appeal

Does anyone know my half-sister?

I’m searching for my half sister. This is the only picture I have of her, taken many years ago, and I’m hoping someone might recognize her.

Her last name could be Thompson, as she was adopted and her mother’s name was Alice J Rixon at the time of her adoption.

We were both born in Blackpool. I was born in 1944, and she was born three to five years before me.

My mother Alice (Joan) was young and too sick to care for her so she gave her up for adoption. If my sister is still alive she could still be in the area.

Sylvia J. Troy

709 Spruce

Magdalena, New Mexico, 87825, USA

Pandemic

Is new lockdown really necessary?

As we enter yet another lockdown, we still await convincing evidence that lockdown strategies actually work. The World Health Organisation doesn’t seem to think they do, in fact they say the opposite is true.

So what is the justification in destroying the economy and ruining people’s lives? It seems to be based purely on all the doomsday scenarios derived from mathematical models, produced by scientific advisors, which are subsequently proven wildly inaccurate week after week.

I fear another extended lockdown will have dire consequences to our country. What makes it so infuriating is that all these rules don’t seem to make any difference. It’s like introducing legislation to control the wind! Closing hotels, pubs and restaurants won’t make the virus go away. So why do it? People are in despair. Depression and mental health issues are at a record level of increase.

Furthermore, can we be sure that coronavirus cases are not being misrepresented? We hear about rising figures and yet other illnesses, such as cancer, lung disease, heart disease etc seem to be dropping. So what is going on there? Is it a case of deaths formally being associated with such diseases being re-classified as covid-19 merely because they died within 28 days of testing positive?

Isn’t it time for MPs of all parties to earn their huge salaries and devise a way forward, and shouldn’t a scientific study be made before making major decisions?

It will be interesting to see what the Government’s great re-set is going to be. All in the blue print apparently.

J Norman

via email

Pandemic

Is new lockdown really necessary?

By expelling Jeremy Corbyn from the Labour party, Sir Keir Starmer has recognised that few people in the UK will vote for extreme candidates looking to impose uncompromising policies, by force if necessary.

Jeremy was the kiss of death for Labour at the last election in 2019 and the only MPs supporting him now

are those who, having had a sniff of power, want to hold on to it regardless of public opinion. If those MPs also leave the party, it will be a good day for the Labour party, and their chances or election.

Phil Cray

address supplied