Police focused on enforcing the rules: Patel
TOUGHER lockdown rules are not needed as police are focused on enforcing existing laws “rigidly, stringently”, Priti Patel has said.
The Home Secretary warned the number of Covid cases was “still far too high” and if people broke the rules they would be fined.
Speaking as she joined police on patrol in London, Ms Patel added: “That has been illustrated in the number of fines over the weekend, in the last week, the number of house parties, unlicensed musical events and also members of the public spoken to by the police.
“It’s by enforcing the rules, the public following the rules, that we will get the R value down.”
Ms Patel said anti-lockdown or anti-vaccination protesters would face fines “without hesitation”.
Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said it was “entirely right” for police to be enforcing the restrictions.
He said a “tiny minority, the selfish few, are intent on breaking the rules” – including those who “recklessly” hold house parties.
Mr Twist added: “There’s a different approach to two people who might accidentally be breaching (guidelines) to what we saw this weekend where we have had house parties of 80 people.
“People know that when they are arranging these sorts of things they are placing...their whole communities at risk.”
It came as thousands flocked to beaches and parks at the weekend despite Boris Johnson begging them to “think twice”.
Crowds were reported on Brighton and Bournemouth seafronts, in Victoria and Hyde Parks in London, on the Long Walk inWindsor and on the riverside in Newcastle upon Tyne.