Police vow to fine rule-breakers as busy streets cause concern
POLICE are preparing to escalate their response to lockdown breaches, ministers have warned, after large numbers of people appeared to ignore advice to stay at home over the weekend.
Despite non-essential shops being closed, large gatherings were seen at food markets, parks and open spaces. While forces have vowed to clamp down on large-scale breaches such as raves and parties, concern is growing about the extent to which the ordinary public is adhering to the new rules.
The fine weather in some parts of the country over the weekend saw many public spaces thronging with people. One market in east London was forced to close early on Saturday after becoming overwhelmed with shoppers, many of whom took advantage of pubs that had remained open to serve takeaway drinks. Social distancing also seemed to have been forgotten in parks, where families gathered in large numbers.
In the Cotswolds, police said they had encountered day-trippers from as far afield as Shropshire, Sussex and London. But they said they had not issued fines because the legislation did not specify how far people were allowed to travel to take exercise.
Last week, Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, told police leaders she expected to see more fines handed out and a more robust approach to enforcing the rules, but despite the Government making an extra £30 million available to forces, there is concern they still do not have the resources to tackle breaches.
Last night, ministers said wilful law breaking would not be tolerated. One minister said: “The police will escalate the response if we see repeated and continuous infringements and flouting of the law. The police are ready.”
Another minister added: “If there is evidence of breaking rules that we need to look at, then clearly we will do that.
“The sooner more people follow the rules, the quicker we can get the R value down.”
Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council, said: “We won’t waste time with endless
encouragement for those who knowingly or deliberately break the rules. People recklessly ignoring the regulations should expect to receive a fixed penalty notice.”
People have been told to remain at home until Dec 2 in a push to get the coronavirus infection rate down. But official guidance lists 13 exceptions, including activities such as going to work, shopping, taking exercise and looking after animals.
There is also concern that businesses worried about their ability to survive a second lockdown have been pushing the rules to the limit to stay open.
Despite florists and masseuses being on the list of shops ordered to close, there were numerous reports of businesses still trading. It is believed that masseuses who offer physiotherapy have interpreted the guidance as allowing them to stay open.
Chris Kettle, who runs a chain of shops called Happy Buddha, selling aromatherapy oils, kept his shop open on Saturday, saying his business was essential for mental health.
Footfall figures from retail analysts Springboard show that although the number of shoppers was down 60 per cent on last year, on Friday, the second day of the new lockdown, there were nearly twice as many people out than on the second day of lockdown in March.
Retail experts said shops, bars and restaurants were still getting to grips with the regulations and were trying their best to carry on operating within the rules. Clare Bailey, an independent retail expert, told The Daily Telegraph that while businesses were doing their utmost to stay open safely, the guidelines were causing confusion.
She said: “The sentiment from businesses in the main, and there are some that don’t follow the rules, is that they will just do everything they possibly can so they don’t get into trouble but they can continue to trade.”
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said that although shops were ready to play their part in stopping the spread of the virus, the lockdown “couldn’t come at a worse time” due to the run-up to Christmas.
“That will be why so many businesses are looking so closely at what those regulations and that guidance does say in order to work out what they can and can’t do, and doing their very best to stay open,” she said.
“Back in March, nobody knew anything about Covid, how it would spread, how to operate safely, so more businesses closed because they didn’t know what was going on. We’ve now had seven months of investment in time and resources on social distancing, queuing systems, antibacterial gel and maskwearing, so people will be keen to do what they can to stay open as much as they can, whilst ensuring they are complying with the law.”
While the police are responsible for enforcing restrictions with the public, local authorities deal with businesses.
A spokesman for the Government said: “We know the vast majority of the British public has come together to help prevent the spread of this virus this winter. Local authorities and police forces should continue to step up enforcement where necessary.”