In the November 2020 print edition of Professional Security magazine, in what we can now see as a lull between the spring 2020 and winter 2020 lockdowns, we looked at how shopping centres and high streets were being policed, in terms of covid safety and more generally. We found that police were largely standing off, whether patrolling on foot without engaging much with the public, or sitting in vehicles; it was for SIA-badged security officers and that new addition to the English language, the ‘covid marshal’, to actually enforce covid rules, whether to keep a distance if queuing to enter a shop, or to wear a face covering. What of the prospects for the summer of 2021, given that the UK Government has offered the prospect of a gradual lifting of the winter restrictions, ultimately (so everyone hopes) with a June 21 return to something like normality?
The restrictions of last summer that meant many who might holiday abroad stayed at home meant packed coastal and other tourist hot-spots, and breaches of covid rules or indeed laws, such as littering and urinating in public (although councils hardly helped by keeping public toilets shut). As featured in the May 2021 print edition of Professional Security magazine, local government, shopping centres and others are widely recruiting marshals; and making other arrangements to manage an anticipated surge in visitors from next month into the summer.
Bournemouth council for example promises security patrols, covid marshals and CSAS (Community Safety Accreditation Scheme) officers in ‘hot spot areas’ to provide a uniformed presence and deal with anti-social behaviour and breaches of covid regulations. As for illegal parking, the council has ‘tow away zones’ and civil enforcement officers. A multi-agency command control centre (MACC) will be in operation until the end of September to oversee the seasonal plan’s day and evening operations, responding in real time to issues, the council adds.
On the Essex coast, Carl Robinson, Director of Public Protection, at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, said: “Public safety is of paramount importance and the council has engaged with businesses and stakeholders offering advice and considerations about reopening safely and responsibly. Guidance includes how to run a COVID-secure establishment such as risk assessments, use of face coverings, social distancing, one-way systems, number restrictions, use of electronic payment, pre-booking and test and trace information. A dedicated regulatory service email to provide advice for businesses who may have positive test results in their workforce is also in place.
“The safety advisory group (SAG) will also be working with event organisers to design COVID-secure events and liaise with them on any event applications. A team of six compliance ambassadors will continue work in the community and visit premises to check compliance and signpost to guidance. Ambassadors will always look to engage with non-compliant premises in the first instance, with enforcement being the last resort.”
Covid-19 marshals employed by the event security and stewarding contractor ShowSec are contracted to Manchester City Council. They are to concentrate on hotspots such as Market Street and Piccadilly in the city centre. The marshals operate in teams of two. The council says that the approach at all times is to “lend a hand” – whether that is queue management in the public realm, anywhere a crowd builds up or queries from the public. The council stresses that the marshals will not directly deal with issues such as people who sleep rough, aggressive begging, buskers or other anti-social behaviour.
Marshals are typically agency workers for a council, earning about £10 an hour. Typically the qualifications required are minimal apart from vague personal qualities (such as being approachable) and having a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check about criminal convictions.
Jim McManus, Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire County Council, made a lengthy statement about an open contract on the Government website for the county council to recruit a further 60 Covid Marshals from July. He said: “Covid marshals are a very effective asset in the fight against covid-19 and one of the key ways we manage local outbreaks as they continue to occur in our communities. Feedback from Hertfordshire schools, businesses and health partners is that they provide reassurance and encourage simple but effective infection control measures such as social distancing, hand washing, face coverings and ventilation. For example, in the weeks leading up to step two of the Government’s roadmap covid marshals visited nearly 4,000 businesses across the county to provide advice and guidance on reopening safely.”
Photo by Mark Rowe; covid marshal, shopping centre.
