Coronavirus conspiracy leaflets delivered to homes in Colchester
A RESIDENT has been handed a community protection warning for distributing coronavirus conspiracy leaflets in Colchester.
Following reports an anti-lockdown protest was set to be held at Colchester War Memorial on Sunday, Essex Police spoke to two members of the Colchester Against Lockdown Facebook group.
Officers explained this was not allowed and the protest didn’t go ahead, but one individual was given a warning for distributing the leaflets.
A spokesman for Essex Police said: “One of the individuals was given a community protection warning under the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2014 for distributing leaflets, following complaints from residents.
“Over the last six months we’ve taken a fair and common-sense approach to policing the government’s Covid-19 regulations – speaking to people and explaining the restrictions to them.
“This approach works and the vast majority have been following the rules.
“We do fully understand people will have different opinions around the measures that are in place to stop the spread of coronavirus.
“Our job is to keep people safe and we will take appropriate enforcement action where necessary and where reasoned conversations have been unsuccessful.”
The leaflet, seen by the Gazette, was delivered around the New Town area of Colchester.
Headlined “Reject, Refuse, Resist” it says Covid-19’s death rate is “similar to flu” adding “there is no new killer virus out there that could kill anyone at any time”.
Under headings such as Fear and Lies it says fines dished out for breaches of regulations are not enforceable “because science has proven there is no health emergency”.
It also features a quote from civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King and proclaims “everything the Nazis did was legal”.
- A copy of one page of the Covid conspiracy leaflet
Under the Resist section it states: “Our ancestors had to get on boats to Normandy or fight in fields of France, we just have to stand up to two blokes from the council”.
Ward councillor Theresa Higgins said there was disbelief amongst the New Town community.
“Residents don’t like receiving leaflets through their doors at the best of times, let alone during the pandemic,” she said.
“Nothing surprises me anymore and I know some people do not see why we need to be in lockdown. People do not like being told what to do.
“But when we deliver leaflets as a political party we have to put an address and a disclaimer on them, this had nothing like that. Residents were incredulous about it.”
Failure to comply with the community protection notice can lead to a fine , remedial action or a court order.
*** This article has been archived for your research. The original version from Clacton and Frinton Gazette can be found here ***
