Police could go into Sheffield pubs to break up fights and will arrest violent thugs

The warning has been issued by South Yorkshire’s Chief Constable Stephen Watson as landlords across the city prepare to reopen after a three-month coronavirus closure.

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He said the force and hospitals are gearing up for demand to be at a similar level to that experienced on New Year’s Eve – traditionally one of the busiest nights of the year.

Extra police officers have been drafted in to work over the weekend.

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Chf Con Watson warned that although the force’s approach during lockdown has been to ‘engage and educate' before moving to ‘enforcement’, ‘violence, abusive behaviour and disorder is never going to be tolerated’.

“So far, the vast majority of the public have behaved absolutely magnificently in observing the restrictions,” he said.

“I think things are changing, however. With the relaxations there’s an element of people who believe it is somehow a sign that the virus is now no longer with us – that could not be further from the truth.

“People need to understand there’s still a very high prevalence of the virus in our community – we are still experiencing new instances of people coming down with it and people are dying every day.”

He added: “For those who behave irresponsibly, bearing in mind the added ingredient of alcohol, I expect my officers to skip through engagement and education pretty rapidly and get to enforcement pretty quickly. Violence, abusive behaviour and disorder is never going to be tolerated.

“We will take a very firm stance.”

Chf Con Watson said: “My hope is that the vast majority of people will continue to behave as they have done.

“There is something to be celebrated but it is not business as usual – the pubs will not operate as usual.

“Officers will be visibly present in and around all areas where we have a concentration of pubs and we will also take a proactive approach to make sure people are abiding by the restrictions in place.

“For any incidents of poor behaviour, anti-social behaviour, disorder, we will be in a position to respond.”