Companies have expressed their amazement that employees had the opportunity and resources to arrange an Easter egg hunt for workers.
Numerous well-trained employees, including those leading the charge against violent radicals in Britain, operate from the Empress building close to Earl’s Court in western London.
A few are counter-terrorism specialists who monitor and chase significant risks to the UK, but they've managed to find some time for a bit of lighthearted fun during Easter.
Nevertheless, the reaction from people nearby to the Easter search was not very encouraging.
A construction worker named Bill Cantley stated 'It's surprising they find the time and vigor for an Easter egg hunt when they are busy hunting terrorists. It appears unfavorable from an external perspective. We don't have the luxury of time for an egg hunt at the construction site; our boss wouldn't approve!'
Maya Jimenez, a 24-year-old cafe employee, stated: "Holding an Easter egg hunt doesn’t seem quite fitting."
'They are decent folks working there; we do serve clients from the police. However, it doesn’t seem appropriate to mess around when we’re continually reminded of the terror threat. They ought to consider how this appears to everyday citizens.'
Chloe Fraser, aged 48 and living close by, expressed appreciation for diligent offices deserving a break. However, she felt that an Easter egg hunt, particularly one without children’s participation, seemed 'trivial'.
She told 'It certainly appears trivial. They perform an excellent role in ensuring our safety, but being a public service, they must maintain their professional image. Organizing an Easter egg hunt without children involved might frustrate some people.'
A staff member from the hotel commented, "While the police have an extremely challenging role, many individuals put in significant effort daily. It's crucial for them to maintain a stern demeanor, and allowing this to falter might not be beneficial."
Former Met Police Detective Peter Bleksley was one of those who spoke out against the decision, particularly as crime in the capital remains unchecked.
Reacting on social media Many residents of London dismissed it as a 'farce', whereas some cynically noted that the Metropolitan Police's poor track record in resolving offenses such as theft and burglary wasn't encouraging.
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One comment on X read: 'Considering they struggle to locate criminals, can we anticipate this search being successful?'
Another user commented: 'Now they go after Easter eggs? This really doesn’t make me feel any more secure.'
A girl from Manchester wrote: 'I wager they won’t discover anything!!'
Geoff Strong suggested, 'How about we circle back on Sunday to spot what was overlooked!'
However, some people doubted the anger over what seemed like a harmless team-building exercise, which they say would occur during breaks.
Tom Gaymor mentioned: "Recently, I've conducted two MH (mental health) presentations for SO15 (Counter Terrorism Command), and from this experience, I have witnessed the immense effort put forth by the officers and staff. I've listened to their experiences and the traumas they've encountered."
'I am not at all resentful of those special individuals having a family day; in truth, I'm glad they get to experience it.'
A fellow user commented: 'Numerous businesses send their employees on team-building outings.'
'The police force once had numerous ways to make their work somewhat more pleasurable. Those times are over now. Should they be limited to organizing an Easter egg hunt for their employees, I would feel disheartened rather than outraged.'
A Met spokesperson said: ‘ Each day, our officers operate around the clock to ensure London’s safety, and they will consistently prioritize emergency tasks and essential police duties.
Early this year, the police faced criticism for suggesting that people in northwest London play classical music to ward off criminals following a series of thefts.
Following the submission of images depicting suspected illegal activities to the Metropolitan Police, someone mentioned receiving an email suggesting they should record subsequent occurrences when it was safe to do so and contact 999 instead.
The statement further read: “Additionally, you may reach out to your housing association or local council and request they play classical music, as it has been shown to discourage criminal activities.”
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