[ad_1]
England’s police forces may not have the resources to effectively patrol the lockdown, warned the national president of the Police Federation.
John Apter told Sky News that there were not enough officers to deal with what he fears will be an increase in illegal behavior.
“We are overloaded like never before because we are controlling like never before,” he said.
“But in protecting the NHS from being overwhelmed, what I don’t want is for the police to be overwhelmed, because that’s a real risk.”
Since Thursday people will be told to stay homeexcept for specific reasons.
But Apter believes the public will be less compliant with the lockdown rules than in March.
“There is a real concern that there will be less compliance,” he said.
“There will always be an element of noncompliance by people who just don’t like the rules.
“It’s when you get the silent majority, those people who understand why the legislation exists, when they start to reject that is a real concern. I hope we don’t get to that place, but there is a real concern that we can.”
Police officers are seen in Liverpool as people enjoyed a night out in October
His warnings come after police in South Gloucestershire shut down an illegal rave served by 700 people in a warehouse near Bristol over the weekend.
But Apter said mass gatherings, like peaceful protests, would not dissolve automatically.
“We don’t have the resources to go to thousands of people protesting peacefully and give them all the tickets,” he said.
“It could turn a peaceful protest into a violent confrontation and we couldn’t deal with that.”
A woman is arrested in a lockdown demonstration against the coronavirus in May
As with the first nationwide shutdown, police will have the power to impose fines on anyone who breaks the rules, but Apter insisted that the app would only be used as a last resort.
“We monitor with consent. When we have to get involved, get down to business, make arrests, then we will. We will not shy away from that, but our style of surveillance is surveillance by consent,” he said.
“There are people who are making genuine mistakes. And I do not think it is correct in this country with our style of police to go with a heavy hand. It is educated, explained and the message is expected to get through.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Apter admitted that officers had also found it difficult at times to follow rapidly changing legislation.
“Police officers don’t absorb it overnight,” he said.
“They are human beings … we are learning as we go.
“Can we continue to do everything that is expected of us? I’m not sure we can, or if we do, we don’t do it as well as we want.”
