Coronavirus Rule Changes: Police just don't have the resources to police bans on gatherings

9 September 2020

Forces “just don’t have the resources” to police all COVID-related issues, Hampshire Police Federation has said, as the Government announces a new ban on social gatherings of more than six people.

The Government has said that from 14 September the number of people allowed to meet socially in England will be reduced from 30 to six, with reasonable exceptions, and that the police will be able to disperse or fine those who break the rules. The fine will start at £100, doubling on each offence up to a maximum of £3,200.

During an interview on BBC Breakfast, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “One of the pieces of feedback we had, including from the police, was that we needed the rules to be super simple, so that everybody knows what they are.” He added: “This will now be rigorously enforced by the police.”

Zoë Wakefield, Chair of Hampshire Police Federation, said: “There is much confusion among the public. Calls to the police and crime levels are almost as they were pre-COVID. The police do not have additional resources to allocate to COVID-related matters, so this places extra demands on officers who are already working near capacity.

“The majority of the public have complied with the rules so far, so hopefully that will continue, but there have been examples in other parts of the country where officers have had to resort to enforcement.

“Just like the enforcement of face coverings in shops, the police cannot be expected to deal with everything. We just don’t have the resources.”

John Apter, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “With the increase in confirmed COVID cases, it’s no surprise the Government has made this announcement.

“For policing, these constant changes to legislation are becoming the norm. The pressures on policing have increased significantly over recent months, and this latest change will add to this pressure.”

But John added that the Government must ensure that the public are made aware of the new rules. He said: “The Government needs to play its part. With so many changes in legislation, an effective public information campaign must be a priority – as there’s been so much confusion for the public and many people don’t know exactly what the law says.”