A ‘challenge’ to police all gatherings

New powers handed to police to fine and detain people for breaching a government coronavirus lockdown will be a significant challenge, according to the chairman of the Kent Police Federation.

Neil Mennie said it was impractical for officers to enforce compliance with all of the government’s restrictions.

“We’re a pretty stretched service and I think we’re very, very reliant on the public taking the advice of government and actually carrying it out,” he said.

“I get the sense the majority of people probably will, but we do have a duty to the minority who don’t. We’ll do the best we can, but it’s just not practical to police every single detail of the legislation as proposed and no one would suggest it could.”

Mr Mennie stressed the police were willing to adapt to different circumstances, and this would include long shifts.

He added: “As with any other piece of legislation, and any other power, police officers will use the most important one and that is their discretion and their ability to communicate with the public.

“This is unprecedented and something I don’t think any of us would ever have predicted, so we’ve got to try and do our best as we go along and I’m confident the public will do their best as well.”

Asked if the new conditions might mean tackling other crimes would become more difficult, he said: “The force is working very hard to maintain normal business, it will do its best to do that.”

Under the restrictions, the police and local authorities will have powers to disperse gatherings, including through fines. These will be reviewed every six months.

On Tuesday Kent Police said they dispersed groups who were gathered on beaches between Folkestone and Hythe, with officers taking to Twitter to remind people of the need to stay home to prevent the spread of the virus.