Cops warn they may not be able to police coronavirus lockdown and say Army might need to enforce it
COPS have today warned they may not be able to police Boris Johnson’s coronavirus lockdown and have hinted the Army may need to enforce it.
The Prime Minister last night outlined his strict limits on when Brits are able to leave their homes and banned gatherings of more than two people.
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He warned the nation they "must stay at home" as he ordered a mass lockdown by closing all non-essential shops and insisting families stay behind closed doors.
However, it didn't stop Londoners from once again packing the Underground with alarming pictures showing commuters squeezing on to carriages this morning.
Last night, Brits were also ordered not to meet up with friends and to go out to buy food or to exercise just once a day.
As part of the Coronavirus Bill - which passed through the House of Commons on Monday - police were given new emergency powers to help them guarantee public safety and maintain law and order.
LOCKDOWN
Anyone who flouts the new crackdown will face fines of up to £1,000 or even arrest when cops are given emergency powers.
But the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation has suggested officers will struggle to enforce the on-the-spot fines.
Ken Marsh said Mr Johnson’s plans would be “very difficult” to put into practice because he was seeing “large amounts of sickness” among officers across the capital.
He told the : “It will be very, very challenging and very difficult for us with what's put in front of us.
“But we don't actually know what is being put in front of us yet other than we're going to be asked to disperse crowds, it's going to be a real, real challenge.
“We will be dealing with it, but I'm not sure we will have the resources to be able to see it through.”
We will be dealing with it, but I'm not sure we will have the resources to be able to see it through.
Ken Marsh
Mr Marsh believes the Army could be brought in if police numbers fall due to coronavirus, as the death toll hit 335 with more than 6,000 cases in the UK.
He told : “The Army are already in place on the outskirts of London and across the country.
“And I don't doubt again for one minute that they will be called if needed.
“Because if we start losing large numbers in policing terms, through isolation and actually having Covid-19, then they are going to step in and support us in some way.
“It could be tailored in quite quickly and I would save that everything is on the table.”
John Apter, national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, added: “I would urge politicians to think before they make such bold statements.
“I just cannot rationally think how that would work.”
ARMY TO HELP
He also revealed some officers had been "spat at" and "coughed on" by vile Brits during the pandemic.
Mr Apter said: "Vile creatures were spitting and coughing in the direction of my colleagues and using the crisis of COVID-19 as a weapon against police officers.
"I contacted the Home Secretary and said something needs to be done."
Mr Johnson's draconian measures which will change every aspect of Brits' lives included:
- All gatherings of more than two people in public were forbidden– meaning a ban on all social events, including weddings and baptisms
- Tens of thousands of non-essential shops were ordered to close
- Communal play and exercise areas inside parks will also be shut down, but not parks themselves
- Places of worship such as churches and mosques must also shut, except to host for funerals
- Travel on roads, trains and buses was also banned, unless it’s essential to get to work.
In a special broadcast on all main TV channels, the PM branded coronavirus “the biggest threat this country has faced for decades”.
He said: “Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope.
“Because there won’t be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, enough doctors and nurses.
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“If you don’t follow the rules the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.
“We will look again in three weeks, and relax them if the evidence shows we are able to.
“But at present there are just no easy options. The way ahead is hard, and it is still true that many lives will sadly be lost.”
COPS TO USE DRONES TO ENFORCE LOCKDOWN
It emerged today that cops will use drones to spy on coronavirus lawbreakers and enforce the lockdown.
Northamptonshire Police says it will use eight to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The flying machines are set to use them to link to speakers to instruct people to go indoors if they are breaking the law.
They would be controlled by trained officers on the ground.
The new approach, police say, will give officers across the country better and speedier access to the latest technology.
It would also ensure a rapid deployment when needed that will ultimately have a significant impact on the response to serious incidents.
Inspector Mark Holland, who is leading the scheme for Northamptonshire Police, said: "Day in, day out, response officers are first on the scene of all kinds of serious incidents.
"Giving them better access to drones means that they are able to quickly take control and respond to save lives and fight crime in the best way."
Northamptonshire Police have already purchased two drones as part of a ten-month trial to make the technology more available to response teams.
Eight officers have already learned how to pilot the two new drones and associated equipment, including thermal imaging binoculars, at a cost of £35,000.
But six further are now expected to be purchased at a further cost of £100,000.
Nick Adderley, chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, added: “My ask is that we purchase a further six drones and what we could do is use them to put out public information messages.
"What is becoming really clear is that the public appetite for information is insatiable and this would be a good and cost effective way to do it."
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