'Policing As Usual' Says Senior Officer
Reassurance provided at Ealing's Safer Neighbourhood Board meeting
Chief Inspector Richard Watkinson
March 18, 2020
It’s “policing as usual” despite the coronavirus outbreak, a top west London police chief has confirmed.
Chief Inspector Richard Watkinson of the West Area Basic Command Unit, which covers Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow, said people ought not to be concerned about the nature of frontline policing amid the disruption.
Speaking at Ealing’s Safer Neighbourhood Board meeting on Monday, March 16, the Met police boss said: “It is policing as usual, don’t be alarmed we are seeing no change in how we are going to police.
“The police service will be maintained, the plans are there, the resources are there.”
The chief inspector revealed that 11 officers were off sick or self-isolating on Monday, which was an amount the force could usually cope with out of its 1100-strong team.
Ch Insp Watkinson admitted however that these numbers will probably rise and that government guidance could change on where police should prioritise their resources.
“It’s difficult to say what might happen but plans are in place…If necessary I will go on the frontline. We have got plans in place to recruit all the officers as we need.”
Due to less people being outside, it is also expected that crime will fall as a result of the protection measures.
“What you tend to find – and just to reassure you – when you have something major like this crime tends to go through the floor, and it is very difficult to be a criminal when the streets are empty. Criminals get sick too…” Ch Insp Watkinson added.
“The only thing unfortunately you will find we will have an increase in domestic violence.”
Elsewhere Ealing Council leader Julian Bell told the board that winter homelessness shelters will be kept open for longer to help with the crisis, unless they have shared sleeping arrangements.
Instead, B&Bs and hotels may be used for rough sleepers to stay safe.
While praising the community efforts that have sprung up since the weekend, cllr Bell also reminded residents to be wary of fraudsters who could take advantage of vulnerable residents during the disruption.
Anahita Hossein-Pour - Local Democracy Reporter