In a surprise address to the Police Federation of England and Wales annual conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a “huge thank you” to “our incredible police men and women for the work that you’ve done to keep people safe during this awful pandemic”.
In a recorded video message played as the virtual event opened on Wednesday, he said: “You’ve encouraged people to stick to the rules the same time as you’ve been fighting crime and you’ve each risen to an enormous challenge.”#
Boris Johnson went on: “Just as I could never have imagined being forced, as Prime Minister, to close pubs and bars and restaurants or tell people how many households could get together, I bet that policing restrictions in that way was not something you ever dreamt you would be doing.
“But you did it because you knew it was how we were going to protect the NHS and save lives.
“And now as we move closer to normality and get on with cracking down on crime, we want you to know that we are going to be backing you all the way, providing millions in funding to tackle serious violence and drugs gangs, giving you the man power to get the job done.”
