TAVISTOCK police officers have a spring in their step after receiving a charitable donation recognising them for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Healthcare company Enertor presented the hardworking officers from the Tavistock Neighbourhood Team with 500 pairs of insoles as part of the Save the Nation’s Soles campaign.

Devon and Cornwall officers spend hours on their feet every day carrying out high visibility tasks, be it foot patrols, speed enforcement, school engagement and events.

So in conjunction with the Devon and Cornwall Police Federation, the insoles are being predominantly distributed to neighbourhood teams across the force.

The Devon & Cornwall Police are the fourth group to receive the charitable donations from the UK insole manufacturer.

To date, 2,000 insoles have been donated to key workers and communities across the UK including district nurses across Braintree, Witham and Halstead, Essex, Western General Hospital staff in Edinburgh, Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes Service and Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance.

Neighbourhood beat manager for TavistockWayne Thielmann, who is also a Police Federation rep, said: ’Our neighbourhood teams across the force, which consist of sergeants, constables and PCSOs, spend thousands of hours, walking hundreds of miles every year carrying out high visibility footpatrols in all weather conditions. When the Police Federation were nominated for Enertor’s Save the Nation’s Soles campaign, we gladly accepted the offer of the charitable donation.

’Anything that will make the job easier for the officers goes a long way. For so many people, the last 18 months or so have been very difficult especially for keyworkers and it is good to get recognition for the hard work Devon and Cornwall police officers have put in during that time.

’Officers from the Isles of Scilly to Lynton to Axminster will soon be carrying out their duties with the benefit of Enertor insoles. On behalf of those officers, I say Thank you.’

Over a single day our feet can support hundreds of tons, with just one step exerting a force twice our body weight,’ said Enertor, ’Imagine the stress on the bodies of our police forces, health care professionals and community services through the pandemic. In order to send thanks, we launched their Save the Nation’s Soles campaign.’

Lucy Hilton from the company said: ’This charitable donation campaign has been created to recognise the many extraordinary people across the country that have and are still spending a huge amount of time on their feet to help us all through the pandemic.

’It was a pleasure to present Devon & Cornwall Police with their insoles and we do hope this makes their long hours on their feet much more comfortable.

’We all know how debilitating lower limb and foot pain can be; 90% of impact comes through our feet with little realisation of the damage this can do to the body.

’Now more than ever, injury prevention is becoming crucial in helping to keep our key workers and community heroes healthy and mobile.

’We will come through this crisis, but the only way through is together and so we wanted to do our bit to support and send our thanks for their continued efforts and devotion to saving the nation.’