'Have a safe weekend' - police warning for families to obey Government guidelines and stay home

The force is reminding residents in Hartlepool and the rest of the Cleveland force area that they must only travel when it is essential to do so – with a warning that officers will be on patrol in a clamp-down against those who break the rules.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued advice to the UK population on Monday, March 23 in a television address by imposing lockdown restrictions, which mean people must stay at home apart from a few exceptions.

These include shopping for food and medicine, daily exercise with those in your household, unavoidable travel to and from work but only when you cannot work from home, providing assistance to a vulnerable person and to tend to a medical need.

Chief Superintendent Thom McLoughlin, Head of Local Policing, called on the community to assist Cleveland Police in protecting loved ones and saving lives.

He said: “The force has not relaxed the Government lockdown rules and we will be continuing to patrol our four districts over the weekend and beyond to ensure people are complying with the rules.

“We understand it is difficult to stay indoors when the weather is nice but by staying home you are protecting loved ones and key workers who are risking their lives to save others.

“Please do not make unnecessary journeys until the restrictions have been lifted and stay home unless there is a reasonable excuse to leave.

“If we all work together we can save lives by protecting the vulnerable people living in our area and the NHS. Thank you to everyone who has abided by the rules so far and have a safe weekend.”

On Thursday, April 16 Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for the Prime Minister while he recovers from the coronavirus himself, informed the public that the lockdown measures would be in place for three more weeks “at least” as the nation continues to fight the spread of Covid-19.

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