Police ‘can still enter bars to break up rowdy gatherings’

POLICE will retain the power to enter pubs to break up ‘large and irresponsible’ gatherings even after lockdown measures are eased, Downing Street has said.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said that, while many of the rules and regulations of the past few months will become merely guidance, some powers will remain.

He added: ‘What the police will be able to do is break up large and irresponsible gatherings of over 30 people.

‘If you have a very big gathering taking place in a park or the sort of raves we have seen taking place in parts of the country in recent weeks, police would have the power to break those up.’

The warning came amid fears that the easing of lockdown on July 4 – a day some are referring to as ‘Super Saturday’ – could cause massive problems for the police.

The plan has been criticised by some, with Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, telling Sky News: ‘The plan to open everything on a Saturday, I think is a mistake. Police forces and councils across the country will think, well why is all of that happening on a Saturday?

‘The guidance around the two-metre rule doesn’t seem to me to be as clear as it should be. It’s too nuanced and obviously we need simple messages for the public. So I would have said it’d be better to say to me to stay two metres unless you’re wearing a face covering.’

Official guidance for pubs published yesterday advised landlords they should inform customers who refuse to follow social distancing rules that the police could be called.

Boris Johnson’s spokesman said police would also retain the power to enforce the wearing of face coverings on public transport, and that local authorities will have the power to close or fine businesses not following regulations.

He added: ‘Other regulations that remain are to help enforce that people arriving in the UK quarantine for 14 days and also the powers the authorities have to detain someone considered a public health risk.’