FLOUT WARNING
POLICE could increase on-the-spot fines for coronavirus lockdown breakers after Home Secretary Priti Patel sounded out top officers about the proposals.
The home secretary begged fed-up Brits to respect the lockdown yesterday as the coronavirus death toll topped 20,000.
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The Home Secretary spoke to the National Police Chiefs' Council on Friday about the possibility of increasing on-the-spot fines for people breaking social-distancing rules.
The meeting came amid a worrying rise in the number of people venturing out in glorious sunshine to parks, beaches and shopping centres.
A sudden spike in car and train use set alarm bells ringing that many people have grown restless and are breaking out.
Ms Patel admitted the past five weeks had been tough and that she understood why so many people are fed up with being stuck indoors.
But she warned rule-breakers that flouting the curfew would cost many more lives and waste the huge sacrifices already made.
At the daily Downing Street press conference, Ms Patel praised the “extraordinary national effort” — and how much people had given up in the fight to defeat Covid-19.
But she warned them not to throw away the gains their efforts had already achieved.
She said: “Staying at home for almost five weeks has changed the way in which we are living our lives, and I know how tough this has been.
“Huge sacrifices have been made. Jobs have been lost, people’s futures have been put on hold, weddings have been cancelled, families have been unable to see one another.
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It comes as:
- UK coronavirus deaths today passed the government's 20,000 benchmark for a 'good result'
- Brits could meet pals under relaxed lockdown rules
- Premier League football could be back on TV within weeks with games behind closed doors
- New parents could receive full maternity pay despite being furloughed
- Workers could go back to "coronavirus-secure" offices from mid-May
- B&Q and Homebase shoppers today flocked to reopened stores as Brits started to venture out
“Every single person across our United Kingdom has given up a great deal.
“From the vulnerable, the elderly, those self-isolating alone, to the hundreds of thousands of small and medium-sized businesses, to the children and young people whose education has been put on hold.
“This extraordinary national effort has been quite remarkable and I am grateful to everybody for playing their part. But we should not lose sight of the fact this country’s efforts are working.”
The Home Secretary said the whole nation was grieving as the crisis reached another “tragic and terrible” 20,000 milestone.
But she said it was vital that everyone upheld the spirit of national unity and stayed indoors to prevent further tragedy.
Warm weather has led many to defy ministers’ instructions and head outdoors in their droves — often breaking social distancing rules.
Traffic control cameras showed hundreds of cars on the move over the past few days.
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Small crowds have been seen gathering on the seafront in Hove, East Sussex, and a London couple were caught by cops after driving more than five hours to climb Mount Snowdon in Wales.
A growing increase in traffic on the roads has added to the unease in Downing Street that the country is becoming bored with having their everyday life on hold.
Police chiefs have repeatedly begged the nation to obey the rules.
One force yesterday called those flouting the lockdown “selfish”. Ms Patel stopped short of lecturing the nation and said: “My thanks go to the British people.
“You have fostered a spirit of national unity that is helping us to get through this challenging time.
“The action we are collectively taking is working, and your sacrifices are undoubtedly saving lives. We know people are frustrated, but we are not out of danger yet.
'EMBRACE THAT SPIRIT OF NATIONAL UNITY'
“It is imperative that people continue to follow the rules designed to protect their families, their friends and their loved ones. This will continue to save lives.
“We all want to return to living our lives as normally as possible, and, of course, as soon and as safely as we can — and that’s what the entire government is working towards.”
She stressed that the Government’s five tests must be met before there will be any easing of life- saving restrictions.
These include making sure we can continue to protect the NHS, that there is a sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rates, and that the rate of infection is down. The Government also wants to make sure that operational challenges are met and there is no risk of a second peak of infections.
The Home Secretary stressed: “Until then, we all have a role to play in pulling our country out of this crisis.
“So, I urge you all to stay strong and embrace that spirit of national unity by continuing to follow the advice: to stay at home, to protect the NHS and save lives.”
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Yesterday the UK became the fifth nation to hit 20,000 deaths — after the US, Italy, Spain and France.
A further 813 deaths in hospital were recorded bringing the total to 20,319.
Last month Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said keeping it below 20,000 would be a “good outcome”.
The grim landmark came as it emerged that football fans will need Sky and BT packages to watch the biggest clashes when the season restarts behind closed doors.
But fans may be able to watch smaller games for free. We can reveal that 47 of the remaining 92 Premier League games will be on paid-for TV.
Some or all of the other games are likely to be free.
A TV executive close to the talks said: “Sky and BT are not going to give up their rights to games for free. They are businesses after all – and that would be madness.”
Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith has urged PM Boris Johnson to boost morale with a TV address ahead of his return to No10 tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove is leading a secret operation to gear up for a return to normal life.
He is running five teams of officials gathering evidence for an exit plan covering schools, transport, public spaces, recreation and the workplace.
MOST READ IN NEWS
A Sun on Sunday probe found that tests at a drive-through site in Greenwich, South East London, are being capped at 250 on some days.
Staff have been told to halt work because government labs can’t handle more samples.
Some swabs are being sent by ferry to be tested almost 500 miles away in Belfast.
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B&Q and Homebase shoppers flock to reopened stores as lockdown Brits start to venture out
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