Vital that these new powers are used sensibly
PETER KIRKHAM,
POLICE now have specific powers to deal with breaches of government directions and guidance.
This is a good thing, as so far they have had to make existing powers fit or fall back on “tact and good humour” to persuade people to obey the lockdown.
But I doubt every type of situation has been covered as the legislation has been rushed through. I believe one major problem will be ensuring a consistency of approach by officers
There has been no time for detailed training and the best most will get is a short briefing from supervisors.
Individual officers will have to fill any gaps themselves and so lots of different interpretations of the same guidance will arise. This will confuse both the public and the police and result in arguments and confrontations.
Officers are not helped by the guidance containing many grey areas and unanswered questions.
Can you sit down for a few minutes in the sun returning from shopping? There is no definitive answer to these and many more questions.
Most officers will use common sense and look at the purpose of the guidance – minimising personal contact.
But some will take a different view. And in social media, these differences will be highlighted and exaggerated.
Hopefully, the National Police Chiefs Council and the College of Policing will publish guidance. But even if they do, communication won’t be perfect.
Incorrect or officious use of the powers will undermine public support.
I have great faith in the police to broadly get this right. As usual, most officers, most of the time, will do the right thing in the right way!
■ Peter Kirkham is a former Detective Chief Inspector in the Met.
■ Britain’s biggest bakers Warburtons yesterday stopped bread deliveries to 2,000 small shops because of the crisis. Stores taking fewer than 20 loaves were left without bread. The company blamed a driver shortage.
■ A “game changing” test to tell if people have built up immunity to coronavirus will go to health workers first. Public Health England said after trials, a million of the 3.5 million fingerprick tests would go to NHS staff then to the public online and at chemists.
■ Pre-paid energy customers are being advised to top up online or by phone from home, rather than risk infection by going to do it at the shops.
■ Nationwide Building Society, the UK’s biggest, will offer fee-free overdraft interest holidays to customers from April 20 until July 1.
■ Critical care nurse Dawn Bilbrough, who made a tearful online plea to stop panic-buying last week, revealed she has developed coronavirus symptoms.
Footage from Derbyshire drone
AS police used drones and roadblocks to enforce rules against non-essential travel, they were yesterday given new powers to arrest and fine anyone guilty of ignoring the lockdown.
Officers can now issue on-the-spot £60 fines, with the amount doubling for each repeat offence. Magistrates can then impose unlimited cash penalties on those who fail to pay.
Announcing the powers, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “The Prime Minister has been clear on what we need to do: stay at home to protect our NHS and save lives.
“That’s why I’m giving police these new enforcement powers, to protect the public and keep people safe.”
As her announcement was made, extraordinary steps were being taken to enforce the social distancing rules.
In the Peak District, police used a drone to collect number plates from parked cars and trace their owners. Spotting walkers, they tweeted: “Walking your dog in the Peak District: Not essential.”
WARNING
They added: “Some number plates were coming back to keepers in Sheffield, so we know that people are travelling to visit. Daily exercise should be taken locally to your home.”
In North Yorkshire, police carried out spot checks near Harrogate.
North Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker, said: “The message is clear and the warning stark. Stay at home, save lives.” The force said the checkpoints could appear anywhere, any time.
Road-blocks were also set up in Plymouth, Devon, while in Cornwall 150 vehicles were checked in Penzance, Hayle, and St Ives.
In Shepherd’s Bush, West London, police were seen telling sun worshipers to go home. And at Cardiff railway station passengers were asked for proof of travel plans.
Tourists in campervans and caravans are barred from entering the Lake District. Cumbria Police said the crisis is “no excuse for a holiday”.
On Tyneside, Northumbria Police stopped a football game, the players breaking the rule of only two people together at a time.
A family of five who travelled from Merseyside to Llanfairfechan, Conwy, for a day at the beach were ordered back home.
And bikers who gathered at a cafe in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, one of them travelling 120
ILL miles from Birmingham, were filmed being told to “disappear” by a local. Sgt Ian Price said: “No longer will this type of social gathering be tolerated.”
In Coventry, police had to break up a house party, sending eight revellers
home. A party in Birmingham was also shut down. A spokesman for the Big Brother Watch civil liberties group questioned the new police powers. He said: “Arbitrary policing will not help the country to fight this pandemic.”
But as police powers were stepped up, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries yesterday said the UK could be face some “measures of lockdown” for the next six months.
Along with enforcing the lockdown, police and prosecutors are warning of tough action against anyone who