Ministers back police slammed as ‘overzealous’

MATT Hancock has backed tougher enforcement of the lockdown by police.

The Health Secretary said the majority of people were “following the rules” to stay at home but that a small number were not.

It came yesterday as crowds formed in parks and on beaches – but with outside exercise permitted, they were not breaking the rules as long as they were with their our bubbles.

However, dozens of Marine AFC football fans were in the wrong by gathering at their team’s stadium in Crosby, Merseyside, before yesterday’s FA Cup match against Spurs.

No arrests were made, but some fans were told to follow social distancing.

The BBC was accused of celebrating the breach with a now-deleted tweet which showed a picture of the fans.

Mr Hancock refused to criticise police over complaints some forces had been over-zealous in handing out £200 fines.

Derbyshire Police came under scrutiny for fining two women who drove separately to go for a walk at a beauty spot and has since confirmed it will review all fixed penalty notices after getting clarification on the regulations.

But Mr Hancock said: “I’m absolutely going to back the police. You might look at the rules and think, ‘Well, it doesn’t matter too much if I just do this or that’.

“But these rules are not there as boundaries to be pushed, they are the limit to what people should be doing.

“The police are right to take very seriously the rules we’ve brought in.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel also offered her support to police.

She stressed there was “a need for enforcement where people are clearly breaking these rules” and vowed police would “not hesitate to take action”.

Ministers are increasing enforcement to stave off calls from scientists for tougher rules than the March lockdown.

A video widely shared on social media showing a woman apparently being arrested and handcuffed for breaching Covid-19 rules after sitting on a bench was “staged-managed” by antilockdown protesters, Dorset Police said.