- This week the Maltby coronavirus testing centre was again forced to close due to anti-social behaviour.
- Local MP Alexander Stafford has written to the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner to request that a police base be established near the site.
Yesterday Rother Valley MP Alexander Stafford wrote a letter to the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr. Alan Billings, requesting that a police base be established outside the Maltby coronavirus testing centre as a matter of urgency.
The Maltby testing centre was again forced to close early on Tuesday evening (April 6th) due to local young people throwing stones at the site, volunteers and NHS staff.
Rotherham has one of the highest rates of the coronavirus in the country and it is vitally important that local testing sites are able to operate efficiently and at maximum capacity.
Alexander has called on South Yorkshire Police to adopt a zero-tolerance approach when handling cases of anti-social behaviour and hopes a police presence near the testing site will prevent future attacks.
Alexander is urging those who may know the identities of the perpetrators to contact police authorities.
Commenting, Alexander Stafford MP said:
“I am gravely concerned that the Maltby coronavirus testing centre has again been forced to close due to anti-social behaviour.
“I have written to the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr. Alan Billings, requesting that he establish a police base by the testing centre to deter these senseless attacks as a matter of urgency.
“The only way to defeat the coronavirus is by testing and vaccinating. Each time the Maltby coronavirus testing centre is forced to shut early due to anti-social behaviour, lives have been put at risk as people are unable to get tested locally.
“Such attacks are an absolute disgrace, and the perpetrators must be quickly brought to justice by South Yorkshire Police.”
