Public ‘punch-drunk’ by law changes on meeting, say police
RANK-AND-FILE police today warned that a confused public have been left “punch-drunk” by frequently changing laws about meeting friends and family during the pandemic.
Officers fear being distracted from frontline duties, such as fighting rising knife crime, to deal with calls from “curtain twitchers” shopping their neighbours. The warning came as Priti Patel today became the latest minister to say she would inform the police if her neighbours were breaching the new “rule-of-six” restriction.
The Home Secretary, who lives in Essex, told Sky News: “The Government advice is pretty clear. It’s not about dobbing in neighbours. I think it’s all about us taking personal responsibility. If there was a big party taking place it would be right to call the police.”
The clampdown came into force yesterday amid a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases. People now risk fines of £100, rising to £3,200 for repeat offenders, for meeting socially in groups of more than six, indoors or outdoors.
Larger gatherings are permitted for work, childcare or political protests — and even grouse shooting and hunting. But meeting six friends for a kick-about in the park, a picnic or party is illegal.
Ms Patel’s comments followed those of policing minister Kit Malthouse, who said concerned neighbours should report violations to the police’s non-emergency number, 101.
But 76 per cent of people responding to a Standard online poll yesterday said they would not inform on their neighbours. Ken Marsh, chairman of the Met Police Federation, said: “Every week it seems there are new rules. But the public are punch-drunk about all these changes. We have not got a never-ending pot of officers, they will be distracted by curtain-twitchers phoning up saying ‘I’ve seen seven people in next door’s garden’.”
The Met is deploying resources across the capital to help enforce tighter restrictions on social gatherings.
⬤ A teenager was ambushed and knifed to death in Islington last night in London’s fifth homicide in five days. Police found the 18-year-old suffering from stab wounds in North Road at 8pm. No arrests have been made.