Police say follow spirit and letter of Covid laws
DEVON and Cornwall Police have issued a plea to the public to “follow the spirit of the Government’s coronavirus guidance, not just the letter of the law”, after they received 885 reports of Covidrelated breaches since the start of the current lockdown.
The force has revealed that, from January 5 to January 10, 699 of the breaches were worthy of intervention from officers. A total of 36 fixed penalty notices were issued, including nine fines for outdoor gatherings, four for leaving a house without reasonable excuse, and 15 for indoor gatherings against the coronavirus lockdown rules.
In addition to the interventions, Devon and Cornwall Police have also revealed that their high visibility patrols across the force area have resulted in over 800 stop-checks and a dozen fixed-penalty notices being issued to motorists for coronavirusrelated breaches.
It was also revealed that road traffic collisions and crime had reduced since the lockdown started, with crime down 11% compared to the pre-lockdown figure.
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Since the start of the national lockdown on Tuesday 5 January through to Sunday 10 January, we have received in the region of 885 Covid-related reports, of which 699 were deemed suitable for 3Es action (Engage, Explain and Encourage).”
The spokesperson added: “Our roads do appear to be quieter, as shown by the notable reduction in road traffic collisions since lockdown, and crime is down around 11% compared to pre-lockdown figures. 999 calls are down around 10% but calls and contact to our 101 services are up around 23% compared to the week prior to lockdown.”
The spokesperson also added that, while the majority of people were complying with the regulations, those who do not face enforcement action which could include fines, and said: “Devon and Cornwall Police operate over the largest geographical force in the country and we cannot be everywhere at once, so it is vital that all are doing their part in adhering to the rules of lockdown as this will ultimately save lives.
“The figures show the vast majority of communities are complying with the regulations and we will always look to respond to all calls where non-compliance is being reported.
“We continue with a 3Es approach and would reiterate that personal responsibility from all of our communities remains critical. We ask our communities to follow the spirit of the Government’s Covid-19 guidance, not just the letter of the law.”
As revealed in yesterday’s WMN, police in Devon and Cornwall are using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology in a bid to enforce Covid-19 regulations.
The force’s chief constable, Shaun Sawyer, said ANPR cameras across the region would be used to make sure that only essential journeys are being made.
Static cameras at the roadside in a number of locations across the area will be used, while every officer in the force also has access to an ANPR app on their devices. This allows them to access live information about vehicles they pass.
Alison Hernandez, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said the use of the technology was necessary during England’s third national lockdown.
“Covid is spreading rapidly across the whole of the UK, not least because this new strain of the virus is far more contagious,” she said. “We need to be doing everything we possibly can to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“The people of Devon and Cornwall have done a great job so far, which is reflected in our case rates which are among the very lowest in the whole country.
“But we mustn’t become complacent. I was saddened to hear about the reports of hundreds of Covid breaches over the weekend, many of which are understood to be related to second homes.
“As such, I welcome the force’s use of ANPR to monitor vehicle movements and make sure the only journeys being made here are essential ones. Using this technology helps us see where certain vehicles have come from and allows officers to further investigate their reasons for travel.
“We have all been through so much this past year and I know this latest lockdown will be very difficult and frustrating for many people. But we must get this virus under control to stop the spread, save lives and protect our NHS.”
Previously, Ms Hernandez called on celebrities to “lead by example” and stay away from Devon and Cornwall during the lockdown.
She said: “I would particularly like to appeal to celebrities and highprofile social media stars. By not conducting unnecessary trips to the region, you will be setting a fantastic example to the wider public and, in doing so, encouraging more people to stick to the rules. I would urge you to lead by example and together we will come through this.”
Speaking last Saturday, Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer called on everyone to ‘regulate yourself’ in a bid to bring infection rates down. He said: “1,000 people a day are dying. You know what to do, please do it.
“We are going to enforce and there is going to be an awful lot of activity and an awful lot of difficult conversations if this carries on.”