Police get tougher with flouters of Covid rules
CRACKDOWN ON PEOPLE NOT WEARING MASKS IS PROMISED
THE Government has warned that police will enforce Covid-19 regulations and fine any rule-breakers.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the “horrifying” death toll underlined the need for people to follow the coronavirus rules.
She told a Downing Street press conference on Tuesday that “most of the public” were complying with the restrictions.
But she added that “a minority of people are putting the health of the nation at risk by not following the rules”.
Ms Patel said: “My message today to anyone refusing to do the right thing is simple: if you do not play your part, our selfless police officers – who are out there risking their own lives every day to keep us safe – will enforce the regulations.
“And I will back them to do so, to protect our NHS and to save lives.”
The Home Secretary said “far too often” police officers were risking their health and lives by “coming into close contact with people, including those who deny the very existence of coronavirus, to keep us all safe”.
She added: “We are now at a critical stage in our battle against this virus.
“To protect those that you care about, and the capacity of our hospitals to protect us all, please stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.”
Martin Hewitt, from the National Police Chief Council, hit out at the “stubborn minority” of people blatantly flouting the rules – and said police patrols would be increased and fines issued where necessary.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has spoken to councils “about the role that they have to play in enforcing the rules”, Ms Patel said.
Police officers were also “moving more quickly to issuing fines where people are clearly breaching coronavirus regulations”, with nearly 45,000 fixed penalty notices issued across the UK.
Ms Patel said her message to the public was to “stick with the rules and stay at home”.
She also warned that people not wearing masks on public transport would face action.
Mr Hewitt said officers would not “waste time” trying to reason with people who had “no regard” for the safety of others.
He outlined a series of recent examples of “irresponsible behaviour” – including a boat party in Hertfordshire with more than 40 people, and a minibus full of people from different households travelling from Cheltenham into Wales for a walk.
He said: “Organising parties or other large gatherings is dangerous, selfish and totally irresponsible in light of the current threat that we face. “Organisers will be fined. But so too will the people who choose to attend.
“Not wearing a face covering on a bus or a train is dangerous. It risks the lives of other travellers including those critical workers who must continue to use public transport to do their important work. So on those systems, unless you are exempt, you can expect a fine.”
Mr Hewitt said people needed to take personal responsibility for their actions.
He said: “We will carry on engaging with people, that’s how we have done this from the beginning. We will talk to people and we will explain.
“But I think the rules are clear enough for people to understand, we are 10 months into this process.”
While the regulations had shifted over time it was “very clear what people need to do”.
“People need to accept the personal responsibility to act properly to prevent the spread of the virus.”
The Home Secretary insisted that the coronavirus rules that people need to follow were clear. Asked why the regulations were not as tough as the first lockdown – despite the parlous situation faced by the NHS – she said: “The rules are actually very simple and clear. We are meant to stay at home and only leave home for a very, very limited number of reasons.”
She added that police had set out “the type of egregious breaches that we will clamp down on”.
Organising parties or other large gatherings is dangerous, selfish and totally irresponsible Martin Hewitt, National Police Chief Council