New lockdown guidelines

15 May 2020

New guidance has been released to give police officers clear direction on the Government’s updated lockdown restrictions.

The Police Federation of England and Wales has worked with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing to produce the guidelines.

“When Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation last Sunday evening, he announced some subtle changes to the previous rules,” says Hertfordshire Police Federation secretary Al Wollaston.

“People are now allowed to exercise more freely, do more activities and spend longer outside but the Government still wants us all to maintain social distancing to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

“This presents fresh challenges to our members and so we will need to understand the new regulations and continue to work closely with members of the public who have been wonderful so far in their support for the role we play in this.

“As usual, we will maintain an approach around the Four Es of engage, explain, encourage and enforce, as a last resort.”

John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation, has stressed the need for clear and unambiguous messages from the Government.

He said: “Police officers across the country are doing an incredibly difficult job in particularly trying circumstances. We have never had to deal with anything like this before, yet my colleagues have stepped up to do all they can to protect and support the public in these unprecedented times. We have engaged with people, reassured them and only used enforcement when absolutely necessary.

“Our officers need the continued support of the public – and the media – so they can keep up the amazing work they are doing at this challenging time.”