Police forces to step up enforcement of Covid rules as Army are put on standby to help out
Police forces are to step up enforcement of the new Covid restrictions after the Prime Minister said an urgent crackdown was necessary and announced plans to draft in the Army to help out.
Signalling a more robust approach, Scotland Yard promised firm action against those who deliberately placed others at risk and urged the public to report anyone breaching the regulations.
Police in Greater Manchester, an area with one of the country's highest rates of infection, also said they would be increasing enforcement and "would not sit back and allow people to willfully flout the law".
Throughout the pandemic many police officers have argued that they are struggling to enforce the restrictions due to a lack of frontline resources. In some areas the number of fines issued has remained very low.
But yesterday’s shift in tone came after Boris Johnson expressed frustration that some people appeared to be getting away with ignoring the rules. The Prime Minister said he would draft in troops to free up more police officers if necessary.
Defence sources have told the Telegraph that they have not been consulted on the proposals and no formal request for military aid had been made.
“It came as a bit of a surprise to us yesterday,” the source said, adding that no Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request had been formally submitted.
Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) insisted there was no current need for military intervention and he did not anticipate needing it in the future.
But Mr Johnson's announcement appeared to have had the desired effect with fines for breaching the rules now expected to rise as forces take a tougher approach.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, who is leading Scotland Yard’s response to the pandemic, confirmed that the Met would be stepping up its enforcement of Covid regulations in response to rising infection rates in London.
He said: "It is clear that there is a renewed need for everyone to do everything they can to minimise the risk of transmission of what is a potentially deadly disease - that means everyone following the rules.
"Our officers will help people do that and will explain to the public what those regulations are, however, they will also be firm and take appropriate action against those that simply refuse to follow the law and who are deliberately placing communities at risk.
“We urge the public to continue to report serious breaches to us via the 101 telephone system or using our online reporting system."
Nick Bailey, Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police echoed those comments and said they would resort to enforcement where necessary.
He said: “The infection rate is rising rapidly and this means we must continue to work together to keep everyone safe. We cannot allow those who do not follow the rules to reverse the hard won progress made by the majority who do."
He added: "Our approach will remain the same, engaging with people first, explaining the guidance and law and encouraging people to do the right thing.
"However, we will not sit back and allow people to wilfully flout the law. Where we are left with no choice but to enforce, there is no doubt that we will take this measure in order to protect the most vulnerable across our communities."
And he denied suggestions it was an indication that forces were not up to the job.
He said: “We already have plans that allow the military to backfill into roles to release police officers in certain circumstances.
"We are not in that position now but I think it is sensible to have those conversations and think about that plan. Under no circumstances would there be military personnel in frontline, public facing roles instead of policing.
"That isn't what we would do. It isn't any part of the plan but there might be a point where using military personnel to backfill roles to release police officers might be necessary but it's not necessary at the moment and I don't anticipate that situation."
