SOUTH Yorkshire Police officers are experiencing some of the busiest times in recent policing as the nation unlocks from the threat of Covid-19.<\/p>\n
Steve Kent, Federation Chair, said some sections of the public are already acting as if there were no longer any restrictions in place, and that it has become \u201cincredibly difficult\u201d for officers.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cLarge members of the community are already edging towards acting in a way that\u2019s normal, which in itself causes problems because the idea that police officers can still police this with current regulations is incredibly difficult. We\u2019re already seeing people just going about their lives as normal. And you only have to go into the public to see how much the compliance of face masks is dropping.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve said the force would struggle to police any extension to lockdown rules, as public compliance is deteriorating after 15 months of hardship.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely a concern of mine that if there was any sort of extension that police officers will be put in an impossible situation. Public compliance and the willingness to comply is going. We\u2019ve been warning throughout the whole year that this three-month period around the restriction easing is going to be extremely challenging and I think it\u2019s going to be some of the busiest times in recent years in policing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre officers ready? They will do the job as best they possibly can, as they always will. My concern is the opportunity that leaves officers to get a break over the next few months, which is something that we\u2019re working with the force. We need to make sure that that happens.\u201d<\/p>\n