Coronavirus in Portsmouth: City's top cop urges 'personal responsibility' to stop Covid spread

In her first interview since taking up the job, Superintendent Clare Jenkins warned those who flout lockdown would be brought to justice.

Supt Jenkins, formerly district commander in Gosport and also in Havant, said her officers would be working closely with the city council in ‘evidence gathering’ for any suspected breaches.

She told The News: ‘I don’t think people should rely on the law to be telling them what to do, I think it’s important that people take responsibility and care for those around them.’

She added: ‘People have got to be more careful than ever.

‘It’s not just about following the law – it’s about sticking to the right thing.’

Her team will seek to bring ‘offences against people that consistently choose to flout the regulations’.

It’s a message backed by assistant chief constable Maggie Blyth who said police would continue to engage, explain and encourage people to comply in ‘challenging’ times.

But she added: ‘I have emphasised to our teams that robust enforcement action should be taken as required, where blatant breaches in public places or private premises are reported to us.’

Supt Jenkins, a veteran officer of 28 years warned of the ‘hidden harms’ happening behind closed doors during this third national lockdown.

Domestic abuse, cyber crime and child abuse continue under lockdown, and children may lose the daily opportunity at school to tell a friend or trusted adult of abuse.

Supt Jenkins sees supporting the vulnerable as key to her job and said one of her biggest concerns was ‘what we don’t know is happening behind closed doors’.

The former Operation Fortress sergeant took up the role in November after leading the Local Policing Delivery Unit, involved in trauma-informed and child-centred policing. Former commander Supt Steve Burridge left the post for a secondment.

Supt Jenkins has also told of her delight at seeing new recruits on the streets in Portsmouth who are ‘out on the streets of Portsmouth and out understanding what a community needs’.

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The mum-of-three, who has a disabled son and twin daughters, added: ‘Never has it been more important than now – we’ve all got families, we’re all worried about the health and safety of our own families – we’re really all in this together.’

Separately, Supt Jenkins said she was confident she had enough officers in the city to handle the Operation Transmission plan at Portsmouth port and police Covid regulations.

Protecting the vulnerable in lockdown

POLICE are keen to protect the vulnerable from abuse.

Assistant chief constable Maggie Blyth, a former Portsmouth district commander, said: ‘We do recognise that home doesn’t always mean safety for everyone. We want you to know we are there for those of you that need us.

‘There are individuals and children that will continue to suffer from the impact of abuse, both physical and mental, during the government restrictions. This is worse during a period behind closed doors where contact with other people like friends and family is restricted.

‘Anyone who is facing abuse or harm should call 999. If you’re not in a position to speak press 55 and our controllers will know what to do.’

Call the Hampshire Domestic Abuse Service on 03300 165112.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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