To all of our emergency services and frontline staff,

I would like to offer my deepest gratitude for your exceptional work over the past few days.  The tragic event on Monday has left the local community deeply shocked and saddened. It has been a tremendously difficult time for everyone and my heart goes out to everyone affected. 

Special recognition is owed to our brave, hard-working emergency services on the frontline. In the face of a horrific event that we never expected to see, you acted calmly and quickly. Your actions helped to save lives.

It’s impossible for me to fully understand how it must have felt, but I do know what incredible fortitude it must have taken to continue working through such a difficult day, and for that I thank you. Then to return the very next day to continue the community support you show every day took what I consider to be superhuman strength.

Unfortunately, in scenes that upset and angered the entire nation, your job in dealing with violence was not yet over. We all appreciate your efforts in ensuring the disorder on Tuesday was contained as much as possible. It was so heartwarming to see solidarity follow in the wake of such intolerance as the people of Southport worked as one to repair what had been damaged.

To our police officers, who reacted to stop a terrible incident and then kept the peace even at the cost of your own wellbeing; to the ambulance service who reacted with expert speed; to our hospital staff in Sefton, Liverpool and Manchester, who saved lives and continue to treat the victims; to our fire service, who have shown great organisation and courage in the face of chaos; and to everyone else who has helped in any way, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

And to the police dogs who were injured while serving on the frontline on Tuesday evening, I hope you make a full and speedy recovery.

I know that the events over the past few days will have a lasting impact on everyone who has been involved. I also know that you are modest and will say it was just part of the job, but the work you did handling these unprecedented events truly goes above and beyond the call of duty.

I hope that everyone affected by what they have dealt with takes the time to look after themselves and to reach out to one of the many services in place if they need further support. Please know that we’ll be here for you, just as you were there for us when we needed you most.

On behalf of Sefton Council and the Southport community, thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Marion Atkinson