Covid-secure marshals in town centres are a 'knee jerk' government response, says Portsmouth City Council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson

Gerald Vernon-Jackson, the Liberal Democrat leader of the council, said he had not been made aware of the marshal proposal before it was announced in prime minister Boris Johnson’s press conference today.

The government intends to introduce Covid-19 secure marshals to help local authorities support social distancing in towns and city centres – but has not provided further details as to where they will be introduced in the UK.

Cllr Vernon-Jackson said the authority had been given ‘no heads-up at all’ on the proposal – and expressed concerns at the lack of communication from central government.

He said: ‘It's not surprising because they don't bother to talk to us - but it’s disappointing.

‘They need to talk to us for heaven’s sake.

‘My worry is having yet another organisation here, that could be confusing.

‘My understanding is that the police will have the power to issue on-the-spot fines, but community wardens and other wardens in the city won’t have those powers – and that’s stupid.

‘Its just knee-jerky stuff from the government because they know they have made a mess of this.’

Earlier today, prime minister Boris Johnson announced that social gatherings will be limited to six individuals, with fines for those who breach the rules ranging from £100 to £3,200.

The government also intends to launch a register of newly qualified and recently retired environmental health officers, in an effort to make recruitment easier for councils.

But a shortage of officers has been a problem for more than a year, according to Cllr Vernon-Jackson.

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He said: ‘Environmental health offices are also going to have to police the border from the first of January, to make sure food coming into the country is safe.

‘But there aren’t the people available – we have been telling the government about this problem a year ago.

‘You can only stretch people so thin.’

He added: ‘My hope is that at some point the government will get a grip – at the moment, they are flailing about in complete chaos.’

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