Skip to content

New Covid Compliance Marshals in southern Oxfordshire

From 16 November, two new Covid Compliance Marshals have been employed to promote and encourage businesses and residents across southern Oxfordshire to comply with the COVID-19 public health measures to reduce the impact of the pandemic.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils have used their allocation of a national government grant to employ two Covid compliance marshals, who started work this week and are anticipated to be in post until the end of March 2021.

Following training, these marshals will be out and about, predominantly in town centres, to engage, explain and encourage good practice around Covid-19 guidance. They will be easily identifiable with hi-vis jackets and identification badges.

The marshals will be on duty in our town centres to:

  • promote social distancing and encourage public compliance with Covid-19 public health measures
  • educate and explain Covid-19 guidelines in public areas and for business premises
  • encourage and support businesses to trade as safely as possible in line with these Covid-19 guidelines
  • support the council’s contact tracing duties

The role of these two marshals is not to enforce Covid-19 regulations or to have any enforcement powers. These functions will remain the remit of the council’s Environmental Health and Licensing Teams as well as the police.

Cllr David Rouane, South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet member for housing and environment said: “The role of the marshals is to help support our businesses and our residents by increasing understanding of Covid-19 public health measures, such as social distancing, wearing face coverings where necessary and hand washing.”

Cllr Helen Pighills Vale of White Horse District Council cabinet member for healthy communities said: “It is hoped that having marshals in our town centres monitoring compliance with health measures will increase public confidence in visiting our high streets without increasing the infection rates.”

Notes to editors

On 22 September the Prime Minister announced that £30 million would be made available to local authorities specifically for Covid-19 compliance activities via a  government grant.