LANCASHIRE'S top cop has praised the public for playing their part in helping the NHS save thousands of lives.

Chief Constable Andy Rhodes said the force was pleased with the public's response to the Government's coronavirus lockdown guidelines and said although there had been some initial confusion – including amongst his own officers – people had now got into a routine of limiting their interactions.

He also said the force's contact centre had received fewer unnecessary calls, which freed officers up to be out enforcing the guidelines.

Chf Cons Rhodes said: "Two weeks in and what we are seeing is some initial confusion amongst members of the public – which is understandable – and in fact our own staff about what people can and can't do under the new measures.

"These are unprecedented times. None of us ever thought we would have our movements restricted in the way we are doing at the moment.

"What we have seen after a couple of weeks is people getting into a routine. It is difficult, they are juggling things. Our staff are briefed and they are speaking to people, explaining what the rules are and what they can and can't do, and just having a chat with people and working it out because the ethos we are all trying to follow here is to reduce contact. Our staff are out there trying to keep the public safe and we are using enforcement as a very last option."

On Monday police said 123 fixed penalty notices had been issued in the county in the immediate days since the Coronavirus Act was invoked into Law. However the force has since declined to release any further figures.

Chf Cons Rhodes said: "I would like to say a huge thank you to people foe generally abiding by the measures. People are doing the right thing. One of the things they are doing which is really helping us is reducing calls that are unnecessary into our contact centre. This is giving our staff more time to be out and about speaking to people so that we get it right."

Chf Cons Rhodes praised the public for supporting the Lancashire Resilience Forum in helping to get food packages to vulnerable people in the county.

He added: "What we are seeing is a massive response from the communities across Lancashire. We are playing our part in helping the NHS save thousands of lives."