The Metropolitan Police Federation chairman has expressed concerns in the press that the reputation of the police could be damaged by the necessary enforcement of measures to combat Covid-19.

While we understand his concerns because policing in the UK is as, he says, by consent, we don’t think they have anything to worry about. The vast majority of people in the UK will respect the police enough to not put them in the position of having to enforce the rules.

It’s important that the police know the community are right behind them and that we understand that they are trying their best to save lives and to ease the pressure on the NHS.

This is an extraordinary crisis and the measures that have cross-party support in Parliament are essential and temporary and we stand solidly behind all our emergency services in this difficult time.

Many of us were on opposing sides as recently as December in what was at times a hard-fought election campaign but there are times when politics takes a back seat to community need and this is one of those times.

Signed by:

Cumbria County Councillor Tony Lywood; Gerard Richardson MBE; Rt Hon Hazel Blears, former Minister for Policing and Counter-Terrorism; Trudy Harrison, MP for Copeland; Mike Starkie, Mayor of Copeland; John Mallinson, leader, Carlisle City Council; Mike Johnston, leader of Allerdale Council; Janet King, leader, Workington Town Council; Brian O’Kane, Mayor of Whitehaven Town Council; Alvin Finch, Mayor of Kendal; Sharon L Webster, Mayor of Ulverston Town Council; Peter Kendall, chair of Maryport Town Council; David Burn, Mayor of Keswick; Cleator Moor Town Council; Doug Lawson, Mayor of Penrith; Mark Orchard, Mayor of Silloth Town Council; Paul Turner, Gosforth Parish Council chair and retired police officer; Angela Dixon, Mayor of Millom; Graham Calvin, Egremont and CBC Councillor; Mike Hawkins, Cumbria County Council; Linda Jones-Bulman, Copeland Borough Council; William McEwan, Cumbria County Council; Mike McVeigh, leader of Copeland Council Labour party group; Deborah Earl, Cumbria County Council portfolio holder; Jean Murray, chair, Copeland Labour Party; Karl Connor, deputy leader, Copeland Labour Party; and Juliet Wilson, chair of Allerdale Constituency Labour Party.

Spirit of our community

These last few weeks have been challenging and stressful for everyone. Bad times can bring out the worst in some people but the best in the majority of others.

One thing I have always been proud of people in Allerdale is the great community ethos. I must thank those in our towns and villages going above and beyond to help the elderly, the vulnerable and those self-isolating.

Huge gratitude must be given to the key-workers – the NHS, Armed Forces, care workers and those who work in the retail and distribution sector. The list is long but I’d like them to know how valued and appreciated they are during these uncertain times.

Understandably, Covid-19 has thrown a spanner in the works to many events including VE75. This is in the best interests of public safety, but does not mean we cannot celebrate while social-distancing.

I’d like to encourage everyone to decorate their homes with flags and bunting on May 8 and continue with an added emphasis on unity in the community. I know I certainly will.

I believe the sight of many Union Jacks lining our streets will bring much cheer in these dark days.

Finally, I ask everyone to continue to follow the guidelines, to stay safe and remember – ‘Every cloud has a silver lining.’

Coun PETER LITTLE

Independent, Maryport South

Allerdale Borough Council

A small sacrifice

In the coming weeks up to Easter, Christians around the UK will be remembering the horrendous death on the cross of their saviour Jesus Christ.

In May, although maybe not as planned, our country will not only be celebrating VE Day but will also be reflecting on the sacrifice our young men made in Europe during World War Two. Most of these young men were away from home living in the trenches all over Europe for five or six years, many thousands never returning, all to save the lives and freedom of their fellow man.

Today all our country is asking, not only from our young men but all of us to help save the lives of our fellow man, is for the coming weeks or months “to stay at home or be two metres apart”.

ALAN COYLES

Whitehaven Methodist Circuit

Home Group urged to think again

FOLLOWING your article “Upset over plans to create flats” (The Whitehaven News, March 25) I would like to let you know my feelings regarding the proposals to turn houses into flats.

I am 85 years old and suffer from heart and kidney failure and am registered disabled. I have been a tenant in the same property for 55 years now and was horrified to learn of the proposals.

I rely on being able to live relatively peacefully and now this will be taken away from me. I worry about the noise from the conversions and the extra traffic on an already busy road. But my main concern is the potential noise from the new tenants.

While I acknowledge the comment from Ms Ackerley about it giving single people a better chance of affordable housing, I can’t however agree as I just don’t know whether the flats will be given to decent people or undesirables, as is the rumour around Whitehaven.

There were flats on Woodhouse Road which were demolished so why does Home Group think this is a good idea?

I can only live in hope now that these plans are reconsidered

M CARTMELL

By email

After reading the article in last week’s Whitehaven News about converting houses into flats, I would like to ask Home Group what happened to their plans to build bungalows and one-bedroom flats on Meadow Road next to the cemetery? Would that not be preferable than turning three-bedroom houses into flats?

JANET WYNNE

Mirehouse