Police chief: ‘Please abide by lockdown rules - or we’ll have to act’
APPEAL: Assistant Chief Constable Chris Noble
Humberside Police have today urged people across the region to abide by the latest lockdown restrictions, and warned officers will be issuing fines to those who breech the rules.
Covid-19 restrictions will be legally enforceable from midnight tonight, following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement yesterday evening that the country would go back into lockdown after an alarming rise in infections.
It means people should once more only leave home for essential reasons, such as for work when it is ‘unreasonable’ to work from home, medical emergencies, shopping for essentials, and exercise locally once a day.
Non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues must also close.
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Noble said: “As we enter 2021, everyone will be aware that the infection rates are increasing again, and even more concerning is that we are hearing that more people than ever are being hospitalised, putting more strain on an already stretched health service.
“Whilst I do understand that some people are frustrated and others are simply fed-up, I urge people to consider very carefully how they respond to these latest precautions over the next few weeks and I ask people to make their choices with the safety of their friends, colleagues and loved ones in mind.
“We have all got used to having more freedom over the past few months, so entering a new lockdown is a big step but it’s necessary as we have heard leaders nationally and locally saying that they are more worried now than they have been at any point during this pandemic.
WARNING: Humberside Police will issue fines to people who break lockdown rules
“Many people around the Humberside area have already had the vaccine but there is still a lot more to do in order to get it to everyone who needs it. In the meantime, we must ask for another concerted effort to slow the spread, and to give our health service the crucial time we need to get everyone vaccinated.”
Asst Chief Const Noble stressed officers will continue to try and work with the public during the lockdown but will issue fines to those who refuse to comply.
Rule-breakers can be fined £200 for their first offence, which is lowered to £100 if paid within 14 days. Fines of £400 can be issued for second offences, which can then be doubled for each subsequent offence, up to a maximum of £6,400.
“Our ‘engage, explain and encourage’ approach worked well throughout last year, with the majority of people abiding by the rules, and we have had to administer a relatively small number of fines in our area,” said Asst Chief Const Noble.
“However, we will use enforcement when we need to, and we will be issuing fines to anyone who is responsible for a flagrant breech of the rules.
“Our teams will be patrolling hotspot areas, actively engaging with those who are out and about, and will tackle anyone who is blatantly breaking the regulations or showing disregard for others’ health and safety. These officers continue to put themselves in harm’s way in order to keep others safe, and we ask that people help us by sticking to the rules.
Full details about the latest restrictions can be found here.