Pubs face 9pm curfew if ‘rule of six’ fails to stop rise in coronavirus infections

PUBS could be forced to shut at 9pm if the "rule of six" fails to stop the rise in coronavirus infections.

An extra ministerial meeting hastily organised for Tuesday will discuss the rising stats.

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A source said: “Curfew is hurtling up the agenda.”

Pubs closing early was also “a tool in the armoury actively under consideration”, another added, though it was not “imminent”.

The measures would anger the Treasury, which is under pressure to extend furlough for the hospitality sector.

Greg Mulholland, from the British Pubs Confederation, warned: “If this happens, the industry will need a massive level of support, through grants and extended furlough.

“Pubs have been diligently following the rules, making sure people sanitise and social distance, and that will be the same at 6pm, 9pm or 11pm.

“These proposals risk destroying the Great British pub.”

Bars in lockdown-hit Bolton already have to close early in an attempt to curb the rise in cases in Greater Manchester.

Yesterday, hundreds of Brits flouted the new "rule of six" laws within hours of them coming into force.  

Young people were pictured gathering in large groups across the country - as the Policing Minister urged people to snitch on neighbours who break the new law.

Angry Tory MPs and cops hit out at the snoop order, warning it will turn us into a nation of score-settling busybodies.

Policing Minister Kit Malthouse urged people to call cops if they see groups of more than six.

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If he saw a breach on his road he said he would call 101 and “let the police know”.

Adults face a £100 on-the-spot fine if they — or their kids —  break the new rule, which kicked in yesterday.

But new stats show less than half of Covid fines have been paid.

Police Federation boss Ken Marsh said of Mr Malthouse: “Does he think we have an endless supply of officers who can just go out to these things? 

"It will be hundreds and hundreds of calls coming in from curtain twitchers.”

Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said busybodies may try to settle scores.

He told The Sun: “Calling on people to spy on each other is not a particularly good situation to be in.

“Police will be inundated and unable to separate out the trivial from the serious.

"They could be snowed under with people trying to get even.”

Tory MP Steve Baker blasted the “Stasi”-like surveillance tactic, warning:  “East Germany, here we come.

The fines can rise to £3,200 for repeat offenders. They cannot be appealed but people can refuse to pay and go to court, risking a criminal record.  

No10 added further confusion to the rule today by suggesting police officers would not fine people in the first few days of restrictions.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "What you would expect to happen is for the police to be out today encouraging people to follow the new rules but in the coming days, if we see people continuing to flout the new rules, it is right that people could face a fine.

"The regulations are in place to help to stop the spread of the virus, to protect the NHS and to ultimately save lives."

The new legislation tells Brits they can only meet in groups of up to six people but in certain circumstances are allowed to meet in larger "gatherings" as long as they don't "mingle" with other people who are not a member of their original group of six.

Meanwhile, no tests were available in England's top 10 coronavirus hotspots, according to reports.

Health chiefs also warned hospitals are turning away patients because NHS workers are having to stay off because they can't get their results.