Macclesfield MP, David Rutley, has given his full support to Cheshire Police in urging local residents to follow public health guidance at all times and in particular over the long Easter Bank Holiday weekend. This comes following his recent call with Chief Inspector, Jez Taylor, in which they reviewed local policing priorities in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

During the call, Chief Inspector Taylor explained that Cheshire Police are continuing to work hard to help educate local residents about public health rules and to engage with members of the public to help them better understand what they can and should not do outside their homes in these challenging times.

The Chief Inspector also set out that enforcement action will be taken in situations where this is required. The priority though was for engagement and education first. He was pleased to report that the vast majority of local residents are keeping to the rules when they are out of their homes, including when shopping at supermarkets. Anyone who feels that public health guidance is being breached should call 101, so that local police can respond quickly and help improve the safety of local residents.

It is vital that current rules and guidance are followed. Public Health England has published clear guidance, which states that people should only go outside for food, health reasons, exercise or work, if they are not able to work from home. When outside, we all need to stay two metres, or six feet, away from other people at all times, and must not forget to wash hands as soon we get home.

The small majority of people who are breaking the rules, or pushing the boundaries, should realise that they are not only risking their own lives, but also the lives of others and that through their actions, they will make things harder for the rest of the community.

After his call with Chief Inspector Taylor, David said, “Our local police are doing vital work during these challenging times. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated and hard-working team supporting our communities. They deserve our strong support and I would urge everyone to ensure that they follow public health rules when they go outside, particularly over the Easter weekend.”