And while that patrol ended in tragedy, others are more routine, and,
nowadays, they involve stopping - not masked men - but men and women
who aren't wearing their masks right!
It's part of life under COVID, and this afternoon the Commissioner went
on a drive about town checking social distances and reminding citizens
to wear their masks and to wear them right. Cherisse Halsall reports.
It was a ride-along for the press today as Commissioner Chester Williams
invited us to get a glimpse at the lapses in social distancing and improper
wearing of masks that he sees every day.
We started off on Racoon street where one neighbour was the first to get a
scolding.
Onto King street and this guy really didn't seem to know how to wear his
And crossing the swing bridge this woman got told to pull hers up. But why
the show? Well, It was the commissioner's way of demonstrating that when it
comes to COVID prevention measures, public behaviour leaves a lot to be
desired.
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"The best defence against the COVID virus is the wearing of masks and
proper hand sanitization and these sorts of things and if it is that we as
a society are not listening and not taking heed to the protocols and
warning being issued to us then we are surely in a bad position."
But it wasn't all scolding because at a certain point the cops pulled over
on the roadside to hand out information pamphlets to help educate people or
what to do and how to properly protect themselves.
Chester Williams
"Again we saw where moving around in the City we saw a number of persons
not wearing masks and a number of those who are wearing masks, they're not
wearing it properly.
In other words, the mask is either below the nose or under the chin which
is not the proper way and it is really and truly frustrating because we try
our utmost best to educate the public as to the importance of wearing the
mask as well as wearing the mask properly and despite the educational
campaign that we have embarked on we're still seeing that for some reason
or the other some people are not getting the message.
Chester Williams
"I have given strict instructions that we are not going to give any break
to anybody who is found not wearing a face mask or not wearing their mask
properly. I think that we have surpassed the stage of warning and if it is
that we are going to be constantly warning, warning, warning then nobody is
going to take us seriously and enforcement is very, very key to ensure that
we put a stop to the further spread of this virus. If it is that we who are
supposed to enforce are too lax in the enforcement then we are giving the
virus that vehicle that it needs to be able to spread more widely among
us."
Part two of this exercise could see the commissioner trailed by a police
mobile charged to arrest, not warn or educate offenders.
Just another reason for social distancing and the practice proper mask
etiquette, after all, it's the law.
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Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police