Council staff 'abused, accused of spreading virus'

Leader John Hart says they're in direct contact with the police

Council staff have been abused and accused of spreading the coronavirus while supporting vulnerable people, the leader of Devon County Council has said.

Cllr John Hart said that hundreds of council workers in Devon are operating as another emergency service during the coronavirus crisis.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the way staff have responded to the crisis in so many different ways over the past few weeks,” he said.

But he said that the council are in direct contact with Devon and Cornwall Police over the abuse some of their staff have received for carrying out their job and supporting vulnerable people.

Cllr Hart said: “We are in direct contact with the police over the small minority of ignorant people who have been abusing our staff and accusing them of spreading the virus while they are working to support some of our most vulnerable people who may well have no one else to help them.

“We will not tolerate this type of behaviour and we will not hesitate to support the police in prosecuting them.”

This weekend hundreds of extremely vulnerable people have been contacted by county and district workers as part of the ‘shielding’ effort to ensure everyone who has to stay home for 12 weeks receives essential food, medicine and additional care if they live alone and do not have family or friends to support them. Those food packages have begun to be distributed out to the vulnerable residents across the county.

Cllr Hart added: “Team Devon is on the front line of the battle against this virus. This has been a huge out-of-normal-hours effort by everyone involved and provisions have now arrived in Devon ready for immediate distribution by our district colleagues.

“It is just one example of how we are supporting NHS staff in their valiant efforts to control this deadly disease.”

Work is also under way to convert the Hampton at Hilton hotel in Exeter to provide temporary beds for people being discharged from hospital to free up ward space for more intensive care facilities, and Cllr Hart added: “The county council is working closely with our hospitals to ensure that anyone who can be cared for in their own homes, in residential homes or in these temporary facilities can be safely discharged with proper support.

“We are currently working on a number of other, similar options around Devon in case existing care home capacity becomes insufficient and we are supporting our care staff directly by strongly lobbying the Government to ensure they have all the protective equipment they so badly need to continue their vital work supporting their elderly and vulnerable clients.”

Cllr Hart also praised the headteachers and staff of around 160 schools across Devon who are working over the Easter holidays to provide care and support for the children of key workers like doctors and nurses and people working in food distribution.

He said: “This is just another excellent example of real dedication on the part of the people of Devon in helping to keep the services available for those who need it.

“We are also working with the district, town and parish councils in a way that I can only call Team Devon. There is a tremendous community spirit existing across Devon to support those who need help, be they young or old and especially the vulnerable.”

The work of Devon’s schools support company, Babcock, which is posting regular updates of learning resources and ideas on its website for staff in schools and mums and dads throughout the county who are trying to teach their children at home, has also been praised by Cllr Hart.

An action fund to provide up to £500 to organisations working in communities to tackle the social and economic impacts of the virus outbreak and help the most vulnerable has also been launched, with more than 100 organisations have already applied.

Devon’s highways teams are continuing to make essential safety repairs on the county’s roads in order to maintain the local network for key workers and trading standards officers are on alert to try to police the increasing number of financial scams and sales of counterfeit goods by criminals trying to cash in on the coronavirus crisis.

Cllr Hart added: “I said some weeks ago that Devon County Council would do whatever it takes to help our residents through this crisis and these are examples of what we are doing. But none of it would be properly effective without the dedication and spirit of our staff and I want to pay tribute to that.”