Calderdale community wardens victims of abuse and being labelled as 'COVID police'

Community safety wardens are supporting environmental health officers during routine visits to businesses to ensure they are Covid secure.

But over the weekend Calderdale Council officers were subject to abuse at what is believed to be a hospitality business that is part of the night-time economy.

One of the wardens tweeted: “We are not the covid police, we are not making money out of the pandemic and we are not here to be shouted and swore at.

“Read what it says on our uniform. Community SAFETY. We are here to try keep you safe. Everyone has a role to play.”

Deborah Harkins, the council’s director of public health, said the wardens were just doing their best to keep everyone safe and added: “It’s just not acceptable for them to be verbally abused when they are just doing their job.”

Ms Harkins told the Courier that wardens work with environmental health officers and the police and visit business premises where there have been reports of breaches of Coronavirus advice or restrictions.

She said that since licensed premises re-opened in July, 378 premises had been visited.

If breaches were found a warning letter was sent. If that wasn’t adhered to a “stage two” letter warning of possible enforcement action was sent. The final course of action was a “directions” order which could result in businesses being forced to close.

Ms Harkins said that 29 businesses had received warning letters; 12 had received “stage two” letters; and 10 had been issued with “directions.” Of those 10 two were ordered to close for a minimum of seven days.

Ms Harkins said the vast majority of businesses complied with regulations and heeded warnings.