EU view How other countries have policed their lockdowns

France

Ratcheted up powers to enforce confinement this week via a bill declaring a renewable “state of health emergency” for two months.

Authorities can quarantine or detain people with the virus or who fail to comply with restrictions.

Those who fail to fill in forms justifying movement to buy food, for health reasons, or physical exercise face a €135 (£124) fine. A repeat within two weeks leads to stiffer fines of €1,500 to €3,000.

Three violations in 30 days are punishable by a six-month prison term and a fine of €3,750.

Spain

A state of emergency in Spain since Mar 13 grants authorities wide powers to confine people and ration goods, and temporarily occupy factories or any other premises except private homes.

Police can stop anyone in a public place to check they are not contravening rules, and arrest or fine them.

Minor infractions are punishable by fines from €100 to €600. Those accused of more serious breaches such as opening a non-essential business or obstructing police officers face penalties of up to €60,000.

Carrying an ID card is a legal requirement at all times, and now people are advised to also keep receipts if they have been shopping or other proof of their reason for leaving home.

Italy

Since the lockdown was imposed, Italian police have carried out two million spot checks on people, asking them where they are going and for what purpose.

Of those, 92,000 were found to be flouting the lockdown regulations.

Currently, citizens can be fined €206 but the government has discussed much tougher penalties – fines of up to €4,000 for those caught outside their homes without a valid motive and even the confiscation of their cars.

Soldiers are also checking people’s documents.