May 26, 2017 6.53 pm This story is over 82 months old

Armed police patrols continue in Lincoln over the Bank Holiday weekend

The armed police patrols in central Lincoln will continue over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Armed police on the streets o Lincoln. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The armed police patrols people in Lincoln have seen since Tuesday will continue over the Bank Holiday weekend, Lincolnshire Police said.

Pairs of armed officers have been patrolling in central Lincoln to reassure residents after the terrorist bombing in Manchester on Monday night.

People in Lincoln have expressed a range of emotions from sadness and defiance to reassurance after seeing the armed patrols in the city.

Some residents said the presence of armed officers was saddening, while others stated they were made to feel unsafe by the sight of armed officers in the city centre.

Armed police will also be seen on trains, and weekend events at the Lincolnshire Showground will have extra security checks.

Lincolnshire Police Gold Commander, Chief Superintendent Shaun West said that for practical and precautionary reasons the resources planned for this weekend will continue.

This follows the reduction in the national threat level from ‘Critical’ to ‘Severe’ – which means that an attack still remains, ‘highly likely’.

“The public will continue to see the high levels of policing both armed and unarmed,” he said. “Once we get past the weekend we will be looking to step down the extra resources we have had in place since the threat level was increased to ‘Critical’ earlier in the week.

“Members of the public should continue to be alert and not alarmed and not hesitate to contact us if they have any information or suspicions.  At this stage I want to say a big thank you for the enormous and continuing public support.”

A sign of the times? Lincoln residents have mixed feelings as armed police patrol the city

Patrols will also continue in the seaside towns and resorts across the East Coast in Lincolnshire.

Armed patrols to continue in Skegness and Lincolnshire this weekend