STRONG ARM OF THE LAW
COPS will move people on if they're caught relaxing on a park bench during the new lockdown, Priti Patel warned today.
The Home Secretary backed police taking a tough stance on Brits flouting lockdown rules - as cops asked for power to force entry into homes.
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Ms Patel told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme more than 800 fines had already been issued in the past two weeks for “egregious” breaches of coronavirus rules.
Under current lockdown regulations, you can only leave the house with a reasonable excuse such as exercise, buying food, going to a medical appointment, providing care for someone or escaping injury or harm.
People can carry on going for walks in public parks with one person from another household - but the Home Secretary warned Brits not to relax on benches.
Asked whether officers would question people sitting on park benches during the lockdown she said: “Police have done that, let's be very clear about this.
“Throughout this coronavirus pandemic, during the last lockdown, the police have been asking individuals why are they out and about and should they be out and about, when the message right now is stay at home.”
Cops have been instructed to issue fines more quickly to “anyone committing obvious, wilful and serious breaches”.
Fixed penalty notices of £200 will be issued for a first offence, with this doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.
COP CRACKDOWN
It comes as West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson urged the government to give police powers of entry to help “enforce the new regulations more easily”.
Mr Jamieson said: “For the small minority of people who refuse entry to police officers and obstruct their work, the power of entry would seem to be a useful tool.
“I have raised this issue with the policing minister previously and clarity on the power of entry would help police officers enforce the new regulations more easily.”
Before Christmas, Mr Jamie said cops would break up festive family gatherings if they were against the rules. He issued similar warnings over Hannukkah and Diwali celebrations.
What you could be fined for
You could face a fine for:
- Being out of your home without a reasonable excuse as below
- Travelling abroad or going on holiday during the lockdown period - as this is not a reasonable excuse
- Breaking Covid rules by having others outside your household inside your home
- Meeting people outside your household outside - unless it's one person for exercise alone
- Hosting a gathering - this could see you get a fine of up to £10,000
- Businesses or venues can be fined up to £10,000 too for continuing to operate despite being ordered to shut
- Not wearing a face covering on public transport or in shops
Reasonable excuses for leaving your home include:
- Work: If you have to go to work as you really can't work from home, this will be allowed. Key workers such as those who work for the police, or NHS, will be permitted to do so
- School: only for the kids of key workers or vulnerable pupils
- Exercise: Boris will continue to allow unlimited exercise outdoors. That means people can carry on going for walks, runs and other forms of exercise outdoors if they wish. You can do that with your household, support bubble or on your own with one person from another household
- Food, drink & supplies: People will still be allowed out to collect food and drink - such as at the supermarket, or take-aways
- Medical appointments: Everyone will be urged to continue to attend hospital and doctor appointments if they need to
- To escape injury or harm; those at risk of harm are allowed to leave their current home and move elsewhere
- To provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer: people will still be allowed to travel to care for people who need it, or attend volunteer work too
Strict rules mean that anyone holding, or involved in holding, an illegal gathering of more than 30 people risk a police-issued fine of £10,000.
Scotland Yard also said Londoners would face fines “more quickly” for breaching lockdown rules, as the capital faces a surge in cases and hospitalisations.
The force warned that they would be stopping people randomly to ask them why they are out and about and fining them for not wearing masks.
In a statement yesterday, the Metropolitan Police said: “In practice this will mean that all those attending parties, unlicensed music events or large illegal gatherings, can expect to be fined – not just the organisers of such events.
“Similarly, those not wearing masks where they should be and without good reason can expect to be fined - not reasoned with.
“Additionally, with fewer 'reasonable excuses' for people to be away from their home in the regulations, Londoners can expect officers to be more inquisitive as to why they see them out and about.”
It comes after after the Met cracked down on anti-lockdown demonstrators yesterday in dramatic scenes in Westminster.
Police detained 21 protesters at a rally in Parliament Square, as protesters without masks called for an end to coronavirus regulations.
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Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: "For those planning on demonstrating, you are reminded of your obligation to adhere to the Government guidelines and stay at home.
"If people are found to be in breach of regulations, put in place to keep the public safe, then they can expect to see enforcement from officers.”
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