Coronavirus UK: What powers do the police have during lockdown?

The police have been given new powers in order to ensure people are staying at home.

The police have been criticised in the UK for ‘overstepping the mark’ when it comes to policing the nation under lockdown, but officers have responded with heartfelt pleas for people to ‘walk in our steps’ as they attempt to enforce the lockdown measures and ‘save lives.’

When Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the UK would be going into lockdown on 23 March, he also revealed the police would be given new powers in order to enforce the measures to ensure people stay at home and avoid non-essential travel.

However, since this announcement there has been some confusion relating to what the new powers given to the police are, with Former High Court judge, Lord Sumption warning that with some forces over-stepping the mark the UK is at risk of turning into a ‘police state’.

Read the latest updates: Coronavirus news live

He told Radio Four’s World At One: ‘In some parts of the country, the police have been trying to stop people from doing things like travelling to take exercise in the open country, which are not contrary to the regulations simply because ministers have said that they would prefer us not to. 

‘The police have no power to enforce ministers’ preferences but only legal regulations which don’t go anything like as far as the Government’s guidance.’

So what powers do the police have at the moment, while the UK remains in a state of lockdown?

What powers do the police have during coronavirus lockdown?

As of 26 March 2020, the police were given new powers and support to respond to those flouting the government’s coronavirus lockdown measures in the UK.

The government’s rules for UK residents under lockdown are as follows: 

You should only leave your home for the following, limited, reasons – 

• shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible
• one form of exercise a day – for example, a run, walk or cycle – alone or with members of your household
• any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
• travelling to and from work, but only where you cannot work from home

If the police see members of the public not complying with the government’s lockdown rules, they have been given the power to do the following:

• Instruct people to return to their home, leave a specific area or disperse
• Ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking these rules
• Issue a fixed penalty notice of £60, which will be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days
• Issue a fixed penalty notice of £120 for second-time offenders, doubling on each further repeat offence

Those who do not pay issued fixed penalty notices could be taken to court

When the new powers were introduced last month, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: ‘The Prime Minister has been clear on what we need to do: stay at home to protect our NHS and save lives. All our frontline services really are the best of us and are doing an incredible job to stop this terrible virus from spreading.’

‘That’s why I’m giving the police these new enforcement powers, to protect the public and keep people safe.’

While the police do have the power at the moment to enforce the closure of non-essential businesses, for clarity, the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) have also published guidelines for officers about ‘what is allowed’ during lockdown, including shops and services that are allowed to remain open. 

The NPCC have asked police officers exercise their discretion when enforcing the government’s lockdown measures.

However, they are also asking the general public to use common sense when deciding whether or not they should leave their homes during the on-going pandemic. 

MORE: Can you get a refund from Ticketmaster if your event is cancelled by coronavirus?

MORE: Coronavirus deaths 15% higher than government figures

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Share your views in the comments below.