THE POLICING of lockdown restrictions in Warwickshire have been given the thumbs-up by residents in the county.
Warwickshire Police commissioned a phone survey across the county to gauge the public’s views on how the force had been been carrying out its work during the pandemic.
During the past month 100 people in Warwickshire were contacted weekly and asked for their views.
Some eight in ten believed officers were doing a ‘good job’ during the crisis, and seven in ten said they fully supported the force’s approach.
The way the force communicated with people via social media channels was also praised by around seven in ten residents.
People contacted for the survey said they have been pleased to see extra patrols in their neighbourhoods, praised officers for helping some of society’s most vulnerable and said they believed the force was taking a ‘fair’ approach in keeping people safe during lockdown.
Warwickshire Chief Constable Martin Jelley said: “Community feedback is always important and we are pleased to hear that the majority of people in Warwickshire are happy with the way we are engaging with them during this difficult time.
“A separate survey was done nationally, and although the questions were not exactly the same, the findings are striking in that at the beginning of April only 42 per cent of people said they fully supported the approach taken by the police.
“Our approach throughout has been in keeping with the national guidance for forces, and focused on the 4Es – Engaging, Explaining, Encouraging, and Enforcing.
“Our officers have been out and about in our communities, engaging with people, explaining the guidance and encouraging them to comply. Where this approach has not worked and people have not complied, we have moved into enforcement.
“The vast majority of people in Warwickshire have been adhering to the restrictions and I would like to once again thank the people of the county for assisting us in keeping people safe and slowing the spread of the virus.
“The results of our survey suggest we are getting the balance right, and we will continue to work closely with our communities and partners to continue this. As we move into a time where people are able to spend more time outdoors and we enjoy good weather, I would ask the public to carry on following the government guidelines as we tackle this crisis together.”
