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Police chiefs have urged the public in England to take personal responsibility and observe the new six rule after a weekend riddled with illegal gatherings.
Overall crime fell dramatically during the coronavirus lockdown, when police were given powers to enforce regulations designed to limit the spread of the disease. But Martin Hewitt, chairman of the Council of National Police Chiefs, said police demand was now close to that before the outbreak of the pandemic and urged the public to do their part by limiting indoor and outdoor gatherings to six. persons.
Hewitt said: “Preventing the spread of the coronavirus is a shared effort, and the police are playing our role alongside the government, businesses, hotel establishment owners, local authorities and others.
“Officers are in their communities following our approach to engage, explain and encourage people to follow the rules. We will issue fines when people refuse to comply.
“Demands on police service are now at levels similar to before the pandemic, which makes it vitally important that we all take personal responsibility, stick to the limits and prevent the spread of this deadly virus.”
Police dispersed several illegal gatherings over the weekend as people made the most of the last two days before the “rule of six” came into effect.
Greater Manchester Police said they shut down illegal gatherings at properties in Altrincham and Flixton on Saturday night, as well as a gathering of about 70 people at Mottram. The interventions came just hours after officers attended a meeting at an address in Stockport attended by 45 people, and another address in north Manchester to which they had been called on two previous occasions. Earlier, Nottinghamshire police fined a teenager £ 10,000 for hosting a house party in Lenton that brought together more than 50 guests.
Fixed penalty notices were issued on each of the incidents, as current rules only allow groups of up to 30 people to gather.
Police have continued to intensify patrols in recent weeks and have cracked down on illegal gatherings. Deployments in some areas of interest, such as Leicester and Greater Manchester, have been larger than on New Year’s Eve.
New laws prohibiting gatherings of more than six people, apart from a set of limited exceptions that include work and educational settings, take effect on Monday against a backdrop of growing Covid-19 cases.
The police will be able to disperse such gatherings and fine the persons involved £ 100, doubling up to a maximum of £ 3,200. The exemptions include cases where a single household or a support bubble has more than six people.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “Across the country, we have all made enormous sacrifices in the fight against coronavirus. However, the recent increase in cases makes it clear that more needs to be done to stop the spread of this disease.
“Starting Monday, the new laws will allow the police to fine anyone who breaks the rule of six. As we continue to fight this virus, I urge the public not to participate in social gatherings of more than six people anywhere, indoors or outdoors. “
It remains true that organizers and facilitators of larger gatherings of more than 30 people, such as unlicensed music events, can be subject to fines of up to £ 10,000.
Places that follow the safe Covid-19 guidelines, such as places of worship, gyms, restaurants, and other hospitality venues, can still house more than six people in total. But within those places, there should be no individual groups larger than six, and the groups should not mix socially or form larger groups.
Downing Street faced significant backlash from Conservative MPs over the new law, including their refusal to follow Scotland and Wales to exempt younger children.
