POLICE officers are being “encouraged” to follow social distancing rules after a motorist raised concerns.

The motorist had stopped near Shoreham roundabout on Saturday when he saw the a group of officers very close to each other.

He said: “I think they should know better, it was a poor show.

“One was leaning into the window. They are not bad people, but I felt they needed to be reminded. We are all keeping separate, and we can’t afford them being off ill.”

The motorist said officers in two patrol cars had stopped for coffee, and said an image shows four officers standing within two metres of each other.

Earlier this month Sussex Police Chief Constable Giles York appealed to hundreds of former officers and staff to rejoin the force as volunteers to help cope with staff shortages and increased demands on emergency services.

The force said officers are encouraged to follow Government guidance, but due to the nature of the job there will be times when that is not possible.

In a statement the force said: “Just like members of the public, our officers are encouraged to follow the government guidance around social distancing.

“Owing to the nature of the job, there will be occasions where this is not possible. However, where it is possible, we do encourage our officers to keep two metres apart from each other, and from members of the public.

“Officers will also have Personal Protective Equipment available to them if they feel they need to use these and should be following Public Health England guidance for frontline workers in how they conduct their interactions.”

  • The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund