by
Les May
The
text below is part of a press release regarding the release of a
report by the Home Affairs Committee. I have added my emphasis. The
full report can be downloaded from the link at the bottom of the
page.
As
a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, the police are charged with
enforcing unprecedented regulations and restrictions on movement and
gatherings in order to save lives and protect the NHS, according to a
new report from the Home Affairs Committee.
The report into policing during the epidemic has concluded that the early response from the police has overall been proportionate and effective, and that it is important that any errors and problems continue to be swiftly corrected so that public trust is maintained.
The committee supports the police strategy to engage, explain and encourage, with enforcement as a last resort, and strongly welcomes the vital work of police officers across the country to support the NHS and save lives. It says that adherence to the regulations will ultimately depend on public support and on maintaining the principle of policing by consent.
Given the pace at which the new regulations had to be implemented, the Committee concludes that some early errors were not surprising. It welcomes police forces making public corrections and apologies when mistakes are made, and calls on them to ensure training and proper checks are in place.
The report was finalised before the latest publication College of Policing guidance on reasonable excuses to leave home, and the release of enforcement data from police forces this week which shows a wide variation between 380 enforcement notices served by Lancashire police and 38 enforcement notices served by Greater Manchester Police. The report calls for regular monitoring by the NPCC* and College of Policing where there is significant divergence in the use of enforcement measures.
The report highlights the importance of parks and green spaces during lockdown, especially for families with children and those in urban areas who don’t have gardens or outdoor space, and raises concern about parks being closed to everyone because some people are deliberately flouting social distancing regulations, without first trying enforcement measures against those individuals. It urges police forces and local authorities to work in partnership to see whether proper enforcement action can help keep parks and green spaces open for everyone else instead.
*National Police Chiefs' Council
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