Swayed by his ambivalence to recent emergency rules brought in by the Government to combat Covid-19, I have written to the Red Echo (for all it’s worth) in relation to Merseyside Police’s Ch.Constable, Andy Cooke’s, appearance on tonight’s N.West news, during which he spoke about the approach he and his officers are adopting to the Policing (or otherwise) of it. Looks to me as though he bears all the hallmarks of a company man.
‘As if the Government’s rules regarding the current lock-down aren’t ambiguous enough, Ch. Constable Andy Cooke sought to muddy the waters further by putting his own spin on things during his appearance on tonights’s BBC Northwest news.
In response to a question posed on behalf of a somewhat puzzled viewer, Mr. Cooke was adamant that contrary to popular belief, it was in fact within the spirit of the rule to drive to a location where one could be assured of safe-distancing; the implication being one of open space, perhaps rural or coastal, that was not within the environs of most viewers (i.e. driving over a distance).
I don’t think neither I nor my wife, who was watching with me, were alone in jumping to the same conclusion, as the interviewer also seized upon the opportunity to draw an analogy with the recent robust actions of Derbyshire Police during their intervention with Peak District day trippers.
At this point, his contradiction probably hitting home, Mr. Cooke appeared to back-track on his discretionary approach to proceedings, by asserting that the public should be reasonable in their interpretation of the rules, all the time reassuring viewers (especially the communities of Merseyside) that his approach and that of his Officers was one of education rather than prosecution.
Well that cleared that up!
I’m not sure why Mr. Cooke has chosen to adopt this line of approach - perhaps he has an agenda: perhaps a robust approach would attract confrontation and hence complaints that might be measured by his masters, with inevitable repercussions? I wouldn’t know - but I’m not quite sure that even he has the authority not to enforce these measures, as I and many others, having read was has been written frequently on line, would implore him to do.
Now, I’m all for discretion where appropriate and a milder educational approach when we have time on our hands, but in the current climate, frankly we don’t . You don’t need to be a an individual with a scientific background to realise how quickly this virus is spreading and the very real threat it poses to life. Therefore we all need to act within the spirit of the law and be assured that the authorities are doing their bit to support us by applying it firmly.
You may wonder why I appear to be so sensitive about this issue, but perhaps when you realise that our daughter is a from-line NHS health care professional based at Aintree Hospital, who is so intent on maintaining her guidelines that she couldn’t even visit on her mother’s birthday - we ourselves have been in lockdown for well over week; my wife only leaving home to perform her role as a key worker with responsibility for the welfare of five residents.
Now contrast this with a neighbour who is a painter and decorator and general odd job man, who is of financial means. He is not a key worker and neither is he financially challenged in the current climate. However, with the advent of the lock-down rules, he was cavalier in his attitude towards the whole Covid-19 issue, quite boldly telling my wife that he had no intentions of refraining from work, however long the requisite period might be, and to date he has been true to his word, even going off at weekends in his commercial vehicle.
Now it is not my intention to drop this rule-flouter in the mire for his reprehensible and selfish actions, but you can see why I might just get rather annoyed when those in authority like Mr. Cooke seem to mitigate, even endorse this ill-behaviour by their own dereliction of duty.
In my humble opinion this is not a matter of choice, Mr. Cooke. The authorities have empowered you to act, and for all our sakes, act you must. There’s a time and place for Policing by consent, Mr.Cooke, and now is certainly not the time when dealing with those who care not-a-jot about the harm they may cause to all our communities and loved ones.
Here is the only message I want Mr. Cooke and his ilk to convey in current climes: ‘Stay at Home and wash your hands frequently’.
It’s simple and unambiguous.
‘As if the Government’s rules regarding the current lock-down aren’t ambiguous enough, Ch. Constable Andy Cooke sought to muddy the waters further by putting his own spin on things during his appearance on tonights’s BBC Northwest news.
In response to a question posed on behalf of a somewhat puzzled viewer, Mr. Cooke was adamant that contrary to popular belief, it was in fact within the spirit of the rule to drive to a location where one could be assured of safe-distancing; the implication being one of open space, perhaps rural or coastal, that was not within the environs of most viewers (i.e. driving over a distance).
I don’t think neither I nor my wife, who was watching with me, were alone in jumping to the same conclusion, as the interviewer also seized upon the opportunity to draw an analogy with the recent robust actions of Derbyshire Police during their intervention with Peak District day trippers.
At this point, his contradiction probably hitting home, Mr. Cooke appeared to back-track on his discretionary approach to proceedings, by asserting that the public should be reasonable in their interpretation of the rules, all the time reassuring viewers (especially the communities of Merseyside) that his approach and that of his Officers was one of education rather than prosecution.
Well that cleared that up!
I’m not sure why Mr. Cooke has chosen to adopt this line of approach - perhaps he has an agenda: perhaps a robust approach would attract confrontation and hence complaints that might be measured by his masters, with inevitable repercussions? I wouldn’t know - but I’m not quite sure that even he has the authority not to enforce these measures, as I and many others, having read was has been written frequently on line, would implore him to do.
Now, I’m all for discretion where appropriate and a milder educational approach when we have time on our hands, but in the current climate, frankly we don’t . You don’t need to be a an individual with a scientific background to realise how quickly this virus is spreading and the very real threat it poses to life. Therefore we all need to act within the spirit of the law and be assured that the authorities are doing their bit to support us by applying it firmly.
You may wonder why I appear to be so sensitive about this issue, but perhaps when you realise that our daughter is a from-line NHS health care professional based at Aintree Hospital, who is so intent on maintaining her guidelines that she couldn’t even visit on her mother’s birthday - we ourselves have been in lockdown for well over week; my wife only leaving home to perform her role as a key worker with responsibility for the welfare of five residents.
Now contrast this with a neighbour who is a painter and decorator and general odd job man, who is of financial means. He is not a key worker and neither is he financially challenged in the current climate. However, with the advent of the lock-down rules, he was cavalier in his attitude towards the whole Covid-19 issue, quite boldly telling my wife that he had no intentions of refraining from work, however long the requisite period might be, and to date he has been true to his word, even going off at weekends in his commercial vehicle.
Now it is not my intention to drop this rule-flouter in the mire for his reprehensible and selfish actions, but you can see why I might just get rather annoyed when those in authority like Mr. Cooke seem to mitigate, even endorse this ill-behaviour by their own dereliction of duty.
In my humble opinion this is not a matter of choice, Mr. Cooke. The authorities have empowered you to act, and for all our sakes, act you must. There’s a time and place for Policing by consent, Mr.Cooke, and now is certainly not the time when dealing with those who care not-a-jot about the harm they may cause to all our communities and loved ones.
Here is the only message I want Mr. Cooke and his ilk to convey in current climes: ‘Stay at Home and wash your hands frequently’.
It’s simple and unambiguous.
