Derbyshire police chief wants pubs to re-open on a Monday not a weekend

Hundreds of pubs across the county and city are due to reopen their doors for the first time in three months on Saturday, July 4.

There has been some trepidation about the choice of a Saturday for the reopening.

PCC Hardyal Dhindsa sees the merit in moving the reopening to a Monday.

He said: “I know some people have suggested that it might be better if it was on a Monday rather than a Saturday or the weekend.

“Whenever it happens we need to get the message out that people need to be sensible, responsible and I think publicans have a really difficult job to plan how they are going to manage the space to enable people to use the facility without compromising their health or others’ health.

“I hope they have the time and the planning to get that done. It is going to be a challenge.

“I think moving the re-opening to a Monday should be given some serious consideration to see whether that would help the transition from lockdown to people being able to use the facilities.

“I hope the Government and the powers that be look at that seriously.”

Mr Dhinsda was also asked if the police were preparing for any associated call-outs which may result from hundreds of pubs reopening after three months.

He said: “It is always under constant review

“We are always looking to see what regulations are changing and are happening.

“We are using our best intelligence to be as fully prepared as we can and to use our networks to enable that to happen.

“We will work to mitigate as much as possible, but because the rules are not about the law, it is more about guidance, the responsibility is on premises owners.

“It will be about us giving them advice on how space can be used and how to plan and manage and encourage people to use it in a responsible way.

“It is a bit like being let out of jail and doing what you want to do and I see the nature to feel that way but we need to take the opportunity to do this in a balanced and responsible manner to keep all of us safe.”

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