Checkpoints for drivers heading into city centre
POLICE officers are stopping cars and carrying out checks on people travelling into Manchester city centre during the coronavirus lockdown.
A week ago the prime minister introduced measures meaning everyone must remain indoors apart from shopping for essential supplies, medical needs, helping others or exercise.
Only people who must leave their home for work are allowed to travel to their place of employment.
GMP’s city centre team shared an image of an officer carrying out checks along Medlock Street.
A section of the usually busy road can be seen sealed off by cones.
Those who are stopped may have to produce ID to prove that it is essential for them to travel. A message with the photograph, shared on Facebook, said: “Officers are out and about in the city today checking if your travel is essential. If it isn’t then stay home! #helptheNHS #helpsavelives.”
Officers have already been forced to disperse groups of people seen socialising during the lockdown.
A group of around 11 people were dispersed after being caught congregating in the middle of Sackville Gardens to have a barbecue.
The police action comes as Boris Johnson warned restrictions on the lives of people in the UK may last for at least six months.
On Sunday, England’s deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said the nation will not be in ‘complete lockdown’ for half a year but said social distancing measures will be lifted gradually. She said the three-week reviews on the measures to slow the disease’s spread are likely to continue for six months and their success would be judged on slowing its rate. A sudden lifting, she said, could see the nation’s sacrifices ‘wasted’ with another spike in deaths.
The current government rules on movement say: “You should only leave the house for very limited purposes.
“Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible. One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household.
“Any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person. Travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home.
“These reasons are exceptions – even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household.”