Outdoors for no good reason? Prepare to be fined, police warn
Officers will be asking people why they are out and about Fines are likely to be introduced tomorrow
A SENIOR Yorkshire police chief says officers in the region will be given powers to hand out fines to people flouting the Government’s new ‘stay at home’ directives by tomorrow.
North Yorkshire Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker said he was “impatiently waiting” to get the powers from the Government to enforce the orders announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Walker, who chairs the force’s Gold Command meetings to lead the local response, said the powers would give officers “the tools to enable us to reprimand those individuals who are not doing as they’re told and not staying at home”.
And he said yesterday would be a ‘litmus test’ as to whether residents in England’s largest county were following the Government’s new rules that they should only leave the house for essential shopping or medical needs, one form of exercise per day or travelling to work if absolutely necessary.
It was revealed yesterday that people flouting coronavirus lockdown rules will be slapped with an initial £30 fine and could end up in court if they do not pay.
On Monday, Boris Johnson said tougher restrictions on people’s movements during the crisis would be enforced by police and warned those ignoring them would be fined. Officers will have powers to disperse gatherings under a ban on meetings of more than two people apart from those who live together.
Speaking yesterday at a public accountability meeting streamed online, Mr Walker said people in North Yorkshire will be asked questions “they wouldn’t normally be asked” as officers assess how many people are breaking the rules.
He criticised the ‘reckless’ actions of people who packed out rural locations over the weekend.
He said: “What I’ve instructed and asked for this morning is that officers are out of the cars, they’re on the high streets, they’re around the supermarkets, they’re in residential areas, they’re in those coastal areas, the likes of Hawes and other tourist areas, asking people questions.
“Because if there are groups wandering around, or individuals wandering around, there’s nothing wrong with those local officers asking the questions: Are they picking up essential shopping? Are they picking up essential medicine? Are they doing a chore on behalf of somebody? Because that advice needs to be given at this point in a neighbourhood policing style.”
Asked when the new powers would be handed to police, he said: “I keep asking the question in terms of when we’re when we’re going to be able to use them because I am impatiently wanting to get those powers given to the police officers and staff as quickly as possible. It’s expected it’s going to be Thursday. Hopefully, it will be before then.” North Yorkshire Chief Constable Lisa Winward told the meeting that her force still wanted to police by consent and by engaging with the public.
People will be asked questions they wouldn’t normally be asked.
North Yorkshire Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker.