POLICE have dished out more than 1,000 fines to people flouting coronavirus lock down rules.
Officers from 37 forces in England and Wales have clamped down on Brits ignoring social distancing regulations.
Martin Hewitt, the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said the figures shows the “overwhelming majority of people are staying at home to save lives.”
He told No10’s daily press conference: “We have new responsibilities as part of the Government response to the virus, which we will use carefully.
“However, we have had a small minority of people, who despite our best efforts, have refused to follow instructions.”
Mr Hewitt later added: “Anybody can transmit this virus, everybody needs to be responsible and we will engage with them to help them be responsible.”
Today Britain’s coronavirus death toll rose to 9,875 – with the youngest victim just 11 years old.
That is a leap of 917 in the last 24 hours up from yesterday’s total of 8,958 as the country remains in lockdown battling against the virus.
FLOUT OF ORDER
The fine figures come as pictures showed police officers with megaphones moving on sunbathing Brits in parks and on beaches today.
People have been having picnics and even football games despite the Government pleading with the public to stay at home to beat covid-19.
Snaps showed crowds at beaches in Sussex and Hampshire while in London sunbathers and families were seen relaxing in busy parks.
BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION
Priti Patel said that videos of overzealous police enforcement of the lockdown rules that have emerged on social media should not be “blown out of proportion”.
The home secretary made the comment after two clips went viral of cops in Yorkshire and Manchester clashing with the public.
In one of the videos a South Yorkshire Police officer tells a family they couldn’t use their front garden during the coronavirus lockdown.
While in another, an officer from Great Manchester Police threatens to pepper spray a man accused of breaching the social distancing – who claims he is delivering food to vulnerable relatives.
Both forces later apologised for the incidents.
Speaking at the press conference, Ms Patel said: “We’ve seen one or two incidents, and we shouldn’t allow a few social media posts to allow blow out of proportion the way in which the guidance has been put in place.
“We have policing by consent and that means our officers are engaging with the public…while encouraging them to act responsibly and do the right thing.”
