COVID-19 marshals have visited more than 4,600 businesses and dispersed 478 groups in Enfield in just one month to ensure the current lockdown rules are being followed.
These marshals patrol high streets and some parks to break up gatherings, offer advice to businesses and refer any premises breaking the rules to Enfield Council’s Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers for follow up and, if necessary, enforcement action.
The marshals were reintroduced on 17 December 2020 when Enfield and the rest of London were placed into Tier 4 restrictions.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Licensing and Regulatory Services, Cllr George Savva, said: “The rules on face coverings, social distancing, and gatherings are very clear and I am pleased to say that most people in Enfield respect these rules and each other.
“It’s vital that we all continue to follow public health advice, particularly as one in three people with coronavirus is asymptomatic and could spread the virus without knowing. It is only by ensuring everyone follows the advice we can drive coronavirus rates down, help to keep Enfield safe and protect the most vulnerable in our society.
“Our Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers have been engaging with and inspecting businesses throughout the whole pandemic and taking enforcement action as required. I would like to thank these officers for their ongoing and hard work during very difficult circumstances.”
Currently, national lockdown restrictions apply. This means you should not leave your home except for essential reasons – for example to shop for necessities, attend medical appointments, to go to work if you cannot work from home, or to exercise with your household, support bubble or with one other person.
While Enfield’s COVID marshals are on hand to provide advice, the police can take action against those gathering illegally and issue fines. You can be given a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.
For all the information on the restrictions, go to the GOV website.