Crime commissioner admits force has taken ‘over-zealous’ approach
DERBYSHIRE Police have come under fire for their ‘over-zealous’ approach to enforcing the Government’s coronavirus guidelines during lockdown - including from the county’s own Police and Crime Commissioner.
Readers of the Derby Telegraph and public figures alike have criticised officers for being too heavy-handed with visitors to the county’s open spaces in recent days.
The Telegraph has been refused an interview with the Chief Constable of Derbyshire Police, Rachel Swann, with the force saying their position remains unchanged.
Police have handed out sizeable penalties to people who travelled just a few miles to Derbyshire beauty spots for their socially-distanced daily exercise.
Officers confirmed they had issued £200 penalties to visitors of Calke Abbey after they were found to have driven from Burton, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire - even though some had only driven 10 minutes to get there.
These incidents sparked outrage among readers, who believed officers had been too harsh on people for going out to exercise.
Julie Chambers said: “Don’t you think it would be better to explain to people rather than throwing a fine straight at them?
“Don’t you think a lot of people are suffering enough? You could be kind and just explain and fine if they do it again.
“A walk in the fresh air is better than going to the supermarket or garden centres.”
Hayley Dunham agreed, saying: “Power mad, the two women were following the rules to the best of their knowledge.
“They should have been warned, not fined, if the police believed they were in the wrong. There is no set definition of local.”
This is not the first time police have been criticised over their response to the pandemic.
At the start of the first lockdown in March last year, officers from Derbyshire triggered a national outcry after using drones to film people disobeying Covid guidelines by walking in the Peak District.
Now, public figures and national bodies have once again spoken out against excessive behaviour from the force. This includes Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa, who criticised officers for being too enthusiastic in their treatment of local residents.
He said: “On the face of things and based on what I have been told so far, it would appear the force has been a little over-zealous in its interpretation of the guidance.
“It’s important to recognise there are regulations and there is guidance. While the police can enforce the regulations, guidance is just that, which can make this a very challenging and complex situation to police.”
Mr Dhindsa had echoed the message of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, which advised police to ease their approach to enforcing Covid guidelines.
A statement read: “Police officers will be inquisitive about why people are out of their homes and will explain the regulations and encourage people to comply.
“Where people are breaching the regulations and are away from home without a reasonable excuse, they may be issued with a FPN.
“In situations where people are breaching the guidance not to travel out their local area but are not breaching regulations, officers will encourage people to follow guidance.”
Derbyshire police has faced challenges with Covid rulebreakers since the start of the outbreak, though, which may provide some justification for its strong response.
In May last year, masses of people breached coronavirus guidelines after gathering in beauty spots across the county. Images shared online showed hundreds of motorbike riders in Matlock Bath and dozens of cars and walkers in Dovedale.
At the time there were calls for greater punishment of those flouting rules, with officers’ disciplinary powers limited as restrictions were gradually eased.
Following these incidents, a Derbyshire police spokesperson said: “It has been the clear guidance to officers to use enforcement as a last resort – we would seek to engage, explain and encourage, which most people understand and are abiding by the guidelines and legislation.”