Effectiveness of Peterborough’s Covid marshals queried

Cllr Chris Wiggin, Liberal Democrat member for Hampton Vale, told last week’s Full Council meeting that he was “surprised” to hear there had been an “overwhelming positive response from the public”.

He added: “Anecdotally, and this is from spending a lot of time in the city centre for work, I’m not aware of anyone who have seen the Covid marshals challenging people. Indeed, it’s the opposite - they’ve seen the Covid marshals not challenging people and letting them go past.

“Indeed, I am aware of one incident where a Covid marshal had to be told to put on a face mask in a shop. That’s not the level of service we would expect.

“Are you confident that the team are addressing all of these problems and do you think we are getting value for money for this service?”

Cllr Wiggin was addressing Cllr Irene Walsh, cabinet member for communities, who replied: “Yes, I do think we are getting value for money for this service. I think you raise a few issues and as you say anecdotally, and anecdotally I don’t think is enough for us to change what we are doing.

“As far as do the Covid marshals actually do their job, you seem to be implying that they were not going in and breaking up groups. I have actually seen them in action, so I could say anecdotally they do do their jobs, but I think we should not go into the realms of anecdotally and actually let’s go with the evidence and do encourage people to tell you that this or that has happened and to report it in and it will be dealt with accordingly.”

Peterborough currently has a team of 30 Covid marshals across the city, 10 of whom are from the council’s Prevention and Enforcement Service and 20 agency staff funded by the Government.

There are 16 on duty at any one time, operating seven days a week from 9am to 9pm.

There was anger among residents on one occasion after three Covid marshals in Peterborough were caught flouting social distancing rules while not wearing masks, which led to them being reprimanded.

Cllr Walsh, Conservative member for Orton Longueville, told the meeting: “In two months public feedback has been very positive. An isolated concern was raised of agency marshals not adhering to social distancing, but we were able, through the performance mechanisms outlined, to address this quickly and we are confident they are providing a welcome and valuable support to the city’s Covid response.”

The cabinet member also responded to a question on the marshals from Conservative member for Stanground South Cllr Chris Harper, who welcomed their presence but asked “if there would be any possibility of drawing up a rota for at least a few of them to visit the other wards from time to time to help compliment the efforts of the police?”

Cllr Walsh said the council takes an “evidence-based approach to their deployment, to maximise effectiveness of this finite resource”.

She added: “At present, public health data indicates a need for focus in our urban commercial centres which does include many of our ward areas outside of the city centre including, for example, Hampton, Werrington, Bretton and Stanground.

“However, we know from the community intelligence that other locations such as rural beauty spots are a concern, and we are therefore committing resource into these areas as and when a need arises.

“This includes areas such as country parks and other exercise or dog walking areas, and I can confirm that at present this is receiving attention from both the Covid marshals and the police.”

Asked by Cllr Harper how the marshals handle Covid breaches as they lack the power to issue a fixed penalty, the cabinet member replied: “I have actually seen it in operation. Our Covid marshals have a direct link to the CCTV operator who can in turn radio police and ask for immediate support.

“The council marshals and police rotas are shared weekly to align resourcing whenever possible. This allows a joint focus on pre-agreed hotspot areas and helps ensure support is on hand if required.

“If police support is not available, Covid marshals will pass that evidence onto them later after the incident has occurred if follow up is required. This is also used to help shape future patrol activity.”