New police powers to enforce curbs on public life in bid to slow coronavirus spread

Police in Dane Park after the curbs were announced Photo Carl Hudson

Police have been given extra powers to enforce strict new curbs on public life in the bid to slow down the spread of coronavirus.

The government today (March 26) made new public health regulations strengthening the police enforcement powers in England to ensure people stay at home and avoid non-essential travel.

From today if members of the public do not comply the police may:

  • instruct them to go home, leave an area or disperse
  • ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking these rules
  • issue a fixed penalty notice of £60, which will be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days
  • issue a fixed penalty notice of £120 for second time offenders, doubling on each further repeat offence

Those who do not pay a fixed penalty notice under the regulations could be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose unlimited fines.

If an individual continues to refuse to comply, they will be acting unlawfully, and the police may arrest them.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “The Prime Minister has been clear on what we need to do: stay at home to protect our NHS and save lives. All our frontline services really are the best of us and are doing an incredible job to stop this terrible virus from spreading.

“That’s why I’m giving the police these new enforcement powers, to protect the public and keep people safe.”

Police resources have also been boosted. Around 1,500 additional police officers have already joined forces across England and Wales since September 2019 as a result of the police recruitment campaign.

Civil Servants who are already volunteering as Special Constables are now able to assist in the national effort. The government has also committed to relaxing tax and pensions rules which could deter officers nearing retirement and those recently retired from returning to serve.

The government is also speaking to the Security Industry Authority about what more they can do to encourage the private security sector to support the national response.

The Home Office has been working with police and fire services to understand their requirements for Personal Protective Equipment over the coming months. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has confirmed that police currently have a good supply and they are overseeing distribution to forces but the government will continue to work with them to ensure that emergency service workers can get the equipment they need, when they need it, in order to carry out their jobs safely.

Only go out if you are:

  • shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible
  • one form of exercise a day – for example, a run, walk or cycle – alone or with members of their household
  • any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
  • travelling to and from work, but only where they cannot work from home

Participating in gatherings of more than two people in public spaces is also not permitted except in very limited circumstances, for example, where it is for essential work purposes.

8 Comments

  1. Why people still travelling on the trains from Kent to London to get infected with the virus then bringing back to Kent

    • Quite so.
      Recent events have demonstrated that Capitalism doesn’t work.
      When push comes to shove, it turns out that our key workers are mostly on zero hours contracts and minimum pay.

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