File image of police officer
POLICE were said to be stepping up patrols in response to sceptics challenging staff at vaccination sites and visiting police stations to report supposed crimes relating to the Covid-19 jab.
Thames Valley Police said it was aware of ‘a number of incidents’ where vaccination centres had been targeted and people had tried to report ‘what they believe to be criminal offences’ relating to the vaccine.
A force spokesman told the Oxford Mail: “We are committed to supporting the public’s right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression whilst also keeping the public safe, preventing crime and disorder, and seeking to minimise disruption.
“Any efforts to intimidate, harass, or commit assault against emergency service workers, staff and volunteers will not be tolerated and will be treated and investigated as a criminal matter.”
🚨 You may see more of our officers out and about across the Thames Valley today & tomorrow.
If you see them, go and say hi 👋 or if you have any concerns please let them know 🙂 pic.twitter.com/aHAjFuE9ho
— Thames Valley Police (@ThamesVP) January 20, 2022
Writing on social media, Thames Valley Police warned people they could expect to see more officers on patrol ‘over today [Thursday] and tomorrow’.
The comments come ahead of a demonstration on Saturday in Bonn Square, Oxford, advertised on fliers seen in parts of the city as a ‘Mass Non Compliance’ event.
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