Stop panic buying pleads West Yorkshire PCSO as second lockdown announced across England

A West Yorkshire Police PCSO has called on people to ‘stop panic buying’ as Leeds and the rest of the country faces another national lockdown
Shoppers queue outside IKEA in Batley, West Yorkshire, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new national lockdown will come into force in England on Thursday (photo: PA Media)Shoppers queue outside IKEA in Batley, West Yorkshire, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new national lockdown will come into force in England on Thursday (photo: PA Media)
Shoppers queue outside IKEA in Batley, West Yorkshire, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new national lockdown will come into force in England on Thursday (photo: PA Media)

PCSO Jordan Coulthard took to Twitter to appeal to his followers not to clear shop shelves by panic buying in response to Boris Johnson’s announcement of a four-week lockdown, which is set to begin on Thursday.

PCSO Coulthard, who covers the North East Leeds District, said: “I am pleading with my followers to please STOP panic buying.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Logically, overstocking will make the situation we are in HARDER to control as this will leave others in desperate need of support.

“THINK. It’s time for us to stop being people and start being human. Please.”

The appeal comes after the Prime Minister announced on Saturday that England will be in lockdown for four weeks, from Thursday until December 2.

The lockdown will mean all non-essential shops must close and only those selling essential items, such as supermarkets, can remain open after having ensured Covid secure measures are in place.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Over the weekend, pictures showed hundreds of shoppers queuing around the IKEA building in Leeds, with some taking to social media to report traffic delays of up to an hour in Birstall.

Others reported long delays at Home Bargains and other stores across Leeds, with shoppers rushing to stock up before non-essential retail stores are closed.

At the start of the last national lockdown in March the public stockpiled cupboard essentials such as toilet paper, pasta, rice and flour which left supermarket shops bare of some of these necessities.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority announced in a tweet on Saturday night that West Yorkshire will no longer enter Tier 3 restrictions today (Monday) as planned, but instead will follow national restrictions as of Thursday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Under the new measures announced, people can only leave home for specific reasons including for education, work if they cannot work from home, exercise and recreation outdoors, for medical reasons, to escape injury or harm to shop for food and essentials and to provide care for vulnerable people.

Schools, colleges and universities are to remain open.

Individuals can also meet with one other person at a social distance in a public outdoor area such as a park.

It is being urged that workplaces should stay open where people cannot work from home, for example in construction and manufacturing, however non-essential shops and leisure venues will all be closed, as will pubs, bars and restaurants.

Non-essential retail includes, but is not limited to, clothing and electronics stores, vehicle showrooms, travel agents, betting shops, auction houses, tailors, car washes, tobacco and vape shops.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Takeaway services and click and collect can continue, and support bubbles will remain intact.

Hotels, hostels and other accommodation should only open for those who have to travel for work purposes and for a limited number of other exemptions which will be set out in law.

Furlough will return at up to 80 per cent of pay for the duration of the national measures.

The introduction of these national restrictions marks a dramatic shift in Government policy, as the Prime Minister has until now resisted pressure to reintroduce nationwide restrictions.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.