Pub-goers were unable to observe social distancing measures as drinking establishments opened across the UK on Saturday, the chairman of the Police Federation has said.
John Apter, who was on shift in Southampton on Super Saturday, said he had dealt with “naked men, happy drunks, angry drunks, fights and more angry drunks”.
Apter tweeted saying it was “crystal clear” from the hospitality industry’s early attempts to employ social distancing measures that “drunk people can’t/won’t socially distance”.
“Finished my late shift with the @HantsPolice Southampton City late shift,” he tweeted on Sunday morning.
“A busy shift, we dealt with anti social behaviour, naked men, possession of class ‘A’ drugs, happy drunks, angry drunks, fights, more angry drunks and was called a fascist pig by somebody we tried to help!
“What was crystal clear is that drunk people can’t/won’t socialy distance.
“It was a busy night but the shift managed to cope. I know other areas have had issues with officers being assaulted. Now heading home, to those still on shift please stay safe.”
It comes as health secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday that the vast majority of people who went out the night before were “doing the right thing” and following the government’s social distancing guidance.