Police chiefs are encouraging Britons to snitch on neighbours they suspect of breaching the coronavirus lockdown rules put in place to protect them and the rest of the public.
Humberside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and Avon and Somerset have created a mixture of ‘hotlines’ and ‘online portals’ where people can submit tip-offs if lockdown infractions occur.
Snoopers who want to punish or threaten alleged rule-breakers into compliance can report cases directly to designated coronavirus police task forces.
The portals have been made in response to a surge in the number of calls to the non-emergency 101 number since the PM imposed the most drastic curtailment of civil liberties in either peacetime or wartime.
Snoopers can report police for supposed violations committed by individuals, groups, or businesses – putting shops under further pressure. They can also provide the address, and date and time by the minute
Concerned citizens are being asked to fill out an online form specifying the nature of the alleged infractions.
They can report police for supposed violations committed by individuals, groups, or businesses – putting shops under further pressure. They can also provide the address, and date and time by the minute.
It comes as Britons trying to adjust to life under the coronavirus lockdown are receiving fines from police for gathering in groups of more than two people.
Senior chiefs have admitted that the police are ‘essentially powerless’ to enforce the sweeping restrictions, and are relying on Britons to self-discipline and abide by the emergency laws.
They are also relying on members of the public to report cases of suspected lockdown flouting.
Derbyshire and Lincolnshire Police are facing charges of zealotry after using drones to spy upon people who are making ‘non-essential trips’ like country dog walks.
As the police urge Britons to spy upon and report their neighbours for alleged violations:
- Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock were struck down by Covid-19 and will now be working from home;
- Chief Medical Officer Prof Chris Whitty is self-isolating after displaying flu-like symptoms;
- Government advisers said that further restrictions could be on the way as 181 people who tested positive with the coronavirus died yesterday in the biggest surge in numbers in a single day yet;
- The ExCeL London Centre is being refitted to create thousands of new beds for COVID-19 sufferers, complete with oxygen, ventilators and other key equipment in the battle against the deadly virus;
- Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham called for stricter policy on businesses from the Government after being flooded with more than 300 complaints about 150 separate companies in his constituency;
- The Government introduced new regulations allowing workers up to four weeks of unused leave to be taken in the next two years as their holidays are disrupted by the pandemic;
- NHS staff will be tested for coronavirus from next week as Chessington World of Adventures car park is turned into drive-thru swab centre for medics;
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology said the social-distancing measures were not adequate, and recommended that the space between people increase from 2m to 8m;
- Health experts said NHS bosses could have prevented ‘chaos and panic’ in a system left ‘wholly unprepared for this pandemic’, adding the Government’s Contain-Delay-Mitigate-Research plan had failed.
Police officers break up a group of people who had gathered in Glasgow city centre during the coronavirus lockdown
Police patrolling the promenade in Brighton and Hove moving people that were sat on the beach during the lockdown
People were spotted flouting social distancing rules in Bath as they enjoyed the sunshine during the coronavirus lockdown
Members of the public exercising closely at Paddington Recreation Ground in London, during the coronavirus lockdown
People exercise in the early morning sun at Hyde Park in central London, during a lockdown over the spread of Covid-19
Members of the public jogging in Regents Park in London, during a lockdown over the spread of the coronavirus
Members of the public jogging in Regents Park in London, during a lockdown over the spread of the coronavirus
A runner passes a hand-painted sign telling would-be walkers to stay at home, attached to a road sign in Bamford, Derbyshire. The village is extremely popular in the Peak District for walkers and others who enjoy outdoor activities
Police officers speak to a man sitting down in Princess Gardens in the centre of Manchester during the lockdown
A police officer in a vehicle speaks to a man resting on the grass in Greenwich Park in London after the Government ordered a sweeping and unprecedented national lockdown to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus
Avon and Somerset Police officers chat to a dog walker in a park in Bristol, where they are patrolling and enforcing the Government’s sweeping and unprecedented national lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus
Outspoken former police chief says officers should be able fire tasers and baton rounds if people fail to comply with coronavirus lockdown
Kevin Hurley, who held senior positions at the Met and City of London Police, made the suggestion on LBC radio
Police should be able fire tasers and plastic bullets at people who fail to comply with Britain’s lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, a senior former Met and City police officer has suggested on air.
Kevin Hurley, who held senior positions at the Met and City of London Police, made the suggestion during an interview with Iain Dale on LBC radio.
He said: ‘I’m moved by what I’m seeing in India where police are literally beating anyone on the street with long sticks. Now this may sound absurd, but my experiences with dealing with the street in London, you can’t even properly police many of the estates.
‘I think we’re talking about warning people, potentially issuing them a fine. If they don’t comply, because you don’t want to touch them taser them on the spot. If they still don’t comply, fire baton rounds at them.
‘If they still don’t comply, fire something else at them that makes them comply permanently because we’re talking about thousands of people dying.’
Big Brother Watch called the tactics ‘sinister’.
Liberty’s Director Martha Spurrier said: ‘This new law is without doubt the biggest restriction on our individual and collective freedoms in a generation.
‘What people may not realise is the extent of its powers, and how long they can be in place for. It gives the authorities new powers to detain any one of us that they deem to be potentially infected with the coronavirus.
‘It also removes vital safeguards in care standards, leaving many people who are already at risk, such as disabled people, at further risk, not only of poor care but also of potentially inhumane treatment.
‘The breadth of this legislation is also extraordinary. It runs to more than 300 pages and includes some spectacular restrictions, including powers to rearrange or cancel elections.
‘We’ll beat this virus, but these measures must be a last resort in that battle and these powers must be removed as soon as possible. We cannot and must not sacrifice all of our hard-won rights and freedoms.’
Humberside’s Head of the Force Control Room said: ‘We are aware there will be individuals who choose not to adhere and understandably, people do want to report this type of behaviour to us as it is risking lives.
‘The online portal has been developed precisely for reports of this nature, where groups have been seen gathered, and has a dedicated team who will receive the report as soon as it is made.
‘Reports will be assessed based on the information provided and we would ask people to please consider the circumstance before making their report.
‘If a couple and two children are seen in the park, it’s highly likely they are all from the same household and are taking the opportunity for their one form of exercise of the day, which under the guidance is allowed.
‘However, if there is a group of 10 people of the same age gathered in a car park, it’s more likely they are not from the same household.
‘We will not be able to deploy officers to every single report of social gatherings that contradict the Government’s advice and dependent on the information within the report will determine our response.
‘Responses or outcomes will not be provided to those who submit a report, as would be the case calling 101, but rest assured it will have been received and action taken where appropriate.
‘Everyone is pulling together during these unprecedented times and our thanks go out to all of our residents across the Humberside Force area who are following the Government’s advice to do the right thing in order to protect the NHS, which in turn will save lives. Please help us in continuing to provide you with a policing service and protecting you by reporting these incidents online and keeping the non-emergency 101 number free for us to deal with all other incidents.