Drinkers ‘ will break the law’

SHUTTING pubs will force drinkers underground and encourage Covid rule- breaking, a law chief has warned.

Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness believes moving a region into the Tier 3 risk category under which pubs and bars must close, would make things worse.

The North- east was last night on the brink of being moved into the tougher category, with the Prime Minister urging leaders in the north to agree to more restrictions.

But local authority leaders are strongly opposing the calls and Ms McGuinness believes closing pubs will lead to more people gathering in each other’s homes, where social distancing is non- existent,

Ms McGuinness said: “Tier 3 means pubs or non- food pubs closing so the concern is that it would drive any people who are seeking to break the law underground and makes it more challenging for police.”

She said people were already ignoring the ban on indoor meeting to host house parties.

And she added: “The number of fines from police has gone up substantially.”