Police use new powers to crack down hard

‘I’m appealing to people not to put lives at risk’

POLICE in Britain warned the public to stay home or face arrest after ministers granted them unprecedented powers to enforce the coronavirus lockdown.

UK prime minister Boris Johnson has stressed that unless you are a key worker or helping someone vulnerable, the only reasons to go outside are to go shopping for essentials, exercise once a day or fulfil any medical needs.

Those flouting the rules face fines of up to £960, and police can now arrest anyone found outside without good reason.

In addition, the UK’s director of public prosecutions yesterday warned that anyone deliberately coughing at 999 workers to spread the virus faces up to two years in jail.

It is in marked contrast to the policy adopted by gardaí so far, who have taken a softly-softly approach.

Details about the sweeping new police powers emerged as checkpoints were set up on Britain’s roads by officers demanding to know where motorists were going.

In Cornwall, police threatened to search car boots to check whether drivers were off to the seaside, while elsewhere a force deployed drones to spy on dog walkers and ramblers.

A video posted online by Derbyshire Police shaming couples strolling in the Peak District was described as Orwellian by critics, with Silkie Carlo, director of civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, warning: ‘Over-the-top policing will not help fight this pandemic.’

Ian Hopkins of Greater Manchester Police warned that some were treating the crisis as a ‘holiday’, leaving supermarkets with trolleys ‘full of booze and charcoal’. He said: ‘What we don’t want to enforce is a state of martial law... I’m appealing to people to be very, very sensible and not put lives at risk.’

Under the new regulations, police can fine anyone caught outside their home without a good reason. The fixed penalty notice starts from £60, cut to £30 for prompt payment. Repeat offenders could see this doubled, to a maximum of £960.