The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has changed the way it’s working to comply with coronavirus (COVID-19) health guidelines, but we want to reassure you that most of the team’s functions are continuing as normal.
Like many other organisations, we’re doing more of our work online during this period and making good use of our social media channels to pass on information and advice from ourselves and our partners. For updates, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You can still message us via our Contact Us page or send us an email directly.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Martin Surl is in daily contact with the Chief Constable Rod Hansen and is continuing to feed back any concerns you have to the Constabulary, ensuring police are keeping focus on protecting elderly and vulnerable people. More on the PCC’s response to the new restrictions and initiatives can be found in our news section.
The uncertainty of the current situation has allowed some flexibility in how the Commissioner’s Fund has been able to react to the needs of local voluntary and community groups at this difficult time – most recently, it has given £5,000 to the Gloucestershire Bike Project to continue helping nurses and other key workers get to and from work safely.
We’ve been looking at more ways to support the county and have pulled together with other funding bodies to form the Gloucestershire Funders, a new collaboration to help keep charities, people and groups afloat amid cancelled fundraising events and similar challenges.
Vital support services are continuing, even though they, too, might be operating differently as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Most organisations have guidance on their websites on how to access their services during the ‘lockdown’. We’ve compiled some useful links for matters which may be of concern:
A message from the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire – Helen Lovatt
#ClapforCarers #ThankYouKeyWorkers
YOUR HEALTH
If you need advice on symptoms, best hygiene practice, staying well
- Advice for all: NHS-Coronavirus
- Staying at Home Guidance (Updated 4 April 2020)
- For medical advice: 111-NHS
- Mental well-being: Every Mind Matters
- Staying fit: Online exercise videos
- Hospital information: Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Every Name A Person campaign from NHS Gloucestershire
SUPPORT SERVICES
If you are self-isolating and need help, have concerns about violence at home or are a victim of crime
- Domestic abuse concerns: Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service (GDASS)
- Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre GRASAC
- Victim of crime and antisocial behaviour: Victim Support
- Matching those in need to those who can help: Gloucestershire’s Community Help Hub
- For older people: Age UK Gloucestershire
- Local support for older people in Gloucestershire - Age UK Gloucestershire (50 downloads)
- Coronavirus scams – for information and advice to protect yourself from scams
EMERGENCY SERVICES
If you need help in an emergency, ring 999
- Gloucestershire Constabulary
- Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service
- South Western Ambulance Service
GOVERNMENT ADVICE
If you want clarification on issues such as social distancing, business help, universal credit
- Advice for all: GOV.UK-Coronavirus
- Business, benefits and pensions: Department for Work and Pensions
- Guidance for businesses, employees and employers
- Pet owners: GOV.UK-People with animals
- Impact on wellbeing: GOV.UK-Mental health and wellbeing
COUNCILS
If you need information on issues such as council tax, bin collections, crematoria
- Gloucestershire County Council
- Cheltenham Borough Council
- Gloucester City Council
- Stroud District Council
- Forest of Dean District Council
- Cotswold District Council
- Tewkesbury Borough Council
WORKING AND SCHOOLING FROM HOME
Resources enabling home-education, video-conferencing and staying safe online
- BBC Learning Zone
- A Home Education
- Science Made Simple
- Maths is Fun
- Skype
- Zoom
- Thinkuknow
- Internet Matters
- Think Ninja App
MEDIA OUTLETS
For keeping up-to-date with news nationally and within your local community
- BBC Radio Gloucestershire
- BBC Points West
- ITV West Country
- Heart FM
- Gloucester FM
- Radio Winchcombe
- The Breeze
- Gloucestershire Live
- Stroud News and Journal
- The Forester
- The Cotswold Journal
PCC backs Every Name A Person campaign
OPCC supports national campaign to raise awareness of the Silent Solution system
New Covid support group to help cash-strapped charities
Stalking advice during lockdown
Keeping kids safe online during lockdown
PCC joins public outcry against ‘Covid’ speeders
The hidden key workers keeping custody safe
Chief Constable’s ‘Stay at home’ plea launches new PCC public video series
Is the biggest test still yet to come?
On the right track, Commissioner backs key workers’ cycle scheme
Early release for low-risk offenders
Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence advice during Covid-19
New online help and support available for victims of crime
PCC confirms funding for Special Constabulary
Today’s update from the Police and Crime Commissioner
PCC calls for severest sentences for criminals who target elderly made vulnerable by virus
PCC promises to pay up on time
PCC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic