Scheme similar to Boris' Covid marshalls 'has been in place for months in Northamptonshire', says county chief

Gatherings or more than six people will be against the law starting on Monday.

A scheme similar to the Prime Minister's plan for 'Covid-secure marshalls' in towns and cities has been in effect in Northamptonshire for weeks.

The PM announced this week there would be new powers granted to 'marshals' to enforce social distancing in public.

At a press conference today, Northamptonshire council and police chiefs said they welcomed the scheme and were still waiting on guidance on what it means - but added that they have been using environmental health officers in a similar way for weeks anyway.

Deputy chief executive of the county council Anna Earnshaw said: "We welcome the Government suggestion there could be additional support to help us on the ground and over see the situation.

"We're still waiting on guidance on exactly what that means.

"However, unlike a lot of areas, we have already got our environmental health officers - sometimes known as wardens - working across every area of the county for some weeks now, and engaging in areas with high numbers of cases or indeed going to investigate areas of non-compliance.

"We've already been very, very active doing that and they've been working well with police to manage things.

"We're waiting to see what if any enforcement powers they will have on top of what they've already got."

The Government says, under the scheme, marshals could either be volunteers or existing members of council staff.

It comes as police forces will also be given new powers from September 14 to break up, and even fine, groups of more than six people.

Northamptonshire Police Superintendent Elliot Foskett said: "One question we've been asked is are we going to be turning up at every restaurant and closing down bars and house parties.

"We're not apprehensive to enforce these rules. The only concern is in perhaps over demand. We do need to prioritise our emergency reposnse for those people who really need it.

"One point to emphasize is the overwhelming majority of the public comply.

"If it works like the model we've already got we'll be extremely happy. It's worked very effectively.

"At the end of the day, we're going to take the approach we've always taken. If we do find that people are flouting the law and putting others in danger, we have a duty to enforce and we won't shy away from it."