Marshals on hand to help borough’s shoppers

Shoppers will see COVID marshals out and about to help champion social distancing and other basic safety measures in town centres now that the rules are starting to relax.

The marshals won’t have the power to issue fines, but are there to promote social distancing and safety guidance to shoppers and visitors while in busy areas.

Eight of the dedicated covid marshals have been appointed to help keep people safe. Their tasks include helping businesses manage queues, supporting social distancing in crowded places, and encouraging people to wear a face coverings.

While recruitment for the dedicated covid marshals – who will have a six-month contract – is ongoing, the positions are temporarily being filled by town centre security and public protection employees to help businesses and shoppers stay safe.

The covid marshals, who are wearing orange and green tabards, are currently out and about in Blackburn and Darwen town centres – in particular The Mall in Blackburn and the market in Darwen – and other busy areas of the Borough.

Gary Johnston, Head of Public Protection at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said:

The covid marshals are not there for enforcement; they are there to give advice and support.

The role is to encourage people to follow the covid guidelines, therefore ensuring people feel safe and secure while visiting our town centres.

It’s great that we have the freedom to enjoy more activities, but we still need to be careful because we are not out of the woods just yet. If we continue to follow the rules, the future is looking bright.”

Dominic Harrison, Blackburn with Darwen Director of Public Health, said:

We still need to support all the public health guidelines as we move into the new stages of restrictions being lifted and help to keep ourselves and each other safe. The covid marshals are there to help everyone with this and make sure we can continue to enjoy getting back to some sort of normality.”

To apply to become a covid marshals, contact The Public Protection Service at publicprotection@blackburn.gov.uk