As lockdown finally ends, Northamptonshire Police says thank you for following the rules

Today’s a big day, the day Covid restrictions finally lift in England.

It’s been a long 17 months for everyone, including our police officers who have spent the pandemic enforcing the various laws put in place to help save lives and protect the NHS, alongside our core job of fighting crime and protecting people.

As we take this final step out of lockdown, we know Covid is still a risk and there’s a long way to go before it’s beaten.

But if we all continue in the public-spirited way that’s brought us this far, and remain sensible, responsible and cautious, hopefully brighter days are close at hand.

We simply couldn’t have played our part in keeping people safe without the support of all the brilliant Northamptonshire residents who have done the right thing throughout the pandemic and followed the rules put in place to protect us all.

Superintendent Elliot Foskett, who has been part of the Force’s response to Covid, said:“I know this has been a really difficult time for everyone. Our communities have had to live with some of the most restrictive rules ever in place around freedom of movement.

“I’d like to thank the countless thousands who played their part locally by staying at home, abiding by the rules and helping to protect not only themselves, but the most vulnerable living amongst us. This really has been your finest hour!

“But we’re not out of the woods yet. The restrictions have gone, but we all need to continue to play our part. Wear a mask when asked by staff in shops or by operators of public transport. You should still expect to see officers wearing masks and maintaining social distance to protect the public.

“We all want to enjoy the rest of the summer – and the rest of the year – without any restrictions in place, and that includes police officers.”

To each and every one of you – thank you.