Police call for more powers to fine people driving to second homes

Police chiefs are calling for laws to ban Britons from driving long distances and going out for exercise more than once a day ahead of a hot Easter weekend.

Officers have also created online forms for people to report potential breaches of the lockdown which was imposed on March 23 to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

At least five chief constables are said to be backing more stringent restrictions and clearer rules, including legislation to enforce the order to limit exercise.

Devon and Cornwall Police are threatening to fine holidaymakers and second home owners who try to enter the area for the Easter weekend and refuse them entry. 

The UK is preparing for at least another three weeks in lockdown with politicians set to launch a Stay at Home This Easter campaign following a Cobra meeting today.

It comes after police in Greater Manchester revealed they attended 494 house parties and 166 street parties last weekend despite the ban on social gatherings. 

Some ministers have been hoping for no more than a two-week extension from the initial end date of April 16. But a minimum of three weeks is now much more likely. 

Police have also told the Government that road use in some areas last weekend was up nearly a tenth compared to the previous weekend, reported the Guardian. 

One unnamed police leader told the newspaper: ‘We need to say you can’t drive. The burden needs to be on the individual not the state to prove reasonableness.’

Another added: ‘There are still people coming down. People are still driving for a long time under the excuse of exercise and to places they do not need to be.

‘The Easter bank holiday is one of the busiest times of the year. I have no new powers for this weekend. There is a significant risk of people breaking the lockdown.’

Police forces in Cambridgeshire, London, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Kent and Avon and Somerset have all brought in online services for the public to report potential breaches. 

Police forces in beauty spots across Britain have reported seeing visitors travel long distances from their homes to enjoy the recent warm weather.

People travelled far to spend time in Cumbria last weekend, while Malham Cove in North Yorkshire had visitors from Bradford, Leeds and Oldham – which is more than 50 miles away. 

In the South West, Chief Superintendent Ian Drummond-Smith, police commander for Cornwall, warned the public to stay away from the area.

He said: ‘Our officers will be patrolling this weekend, firstly on the M5 and A30 in an attempt to prevent visitors from entering the force area, and then locally to enforce the restrictions.

‘We will do so in a fair and balanced manner, but travelling down to the West Country is a serious breach of these restrictions and those doing so can expect to receive a fine.’

Meanwhile a Cumbria Police spokesman said: ‘The Lake District is closed. Please do not travel to the lakes.’ And North Wales Police added: ‘If you are planning an Easter getaway, please note North Wales is closed to visitors.’

Liz Saville Roberts, MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd in Snowdonia, said some tourists were trying to sneak in at night or use alternative roads to avoid detection.

Some are even just accepting a fine of £60 and driving onto their destination, with others sharing tips with each other on how to get in without police noticing.

She told the Daily Telegraph: ‘We have accounts of people with holiday homes sharing advice with each other to travel at night to avoid the police, and even the people who don’t care if they’re fined when they travel – they’ve set out and they want to arrive.

‘The police are doing the best they can with the resources available and they do ask local people who have any reports of people travelling to such accommodation to contact them via email or via webchat.’

Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable Nick Adderley has said the force will now ramp up the enforcement of coronavirus regulations. Mr Adderley said the ‘three-week grace period is over’, and people could now face fines or a criminal record.

According to the police chief, a small number of people had been flouting the regulations – with some officers being ‘baited’ by members of the public.

He said the force may have to resort to more extreme measures such as road blocks and searching shopping trolleys should people continue to break the rules.

Speaking about the new approach, Mr Adderley said: ‘These are not guidelines anymore. This is the law. We haven’t issued any fixed penalty notices, but we have charged a number of people with Covid-related offences.

‘We’ve had examples of people sunbathing in the park, having barbecues in the park, we’ve had large gatherings of family members. To those people, I am saying ‘your time is up’.’

The virus lockdown is set to extend into May after the daily death toll surged to almost 1,000 yesterday. 

London Mayor Sadiq Khan suggested a more stringent lockdown may follow, saying: ‘The Met Police will be busy patrolling parks and open spaces across London this weekend – urging Londoners to do the right thing and follow the rules.

‘I desperately want us to be able to keep our green spaces open for the millions of people that need them for essential walks and exercise – but that means everyone doing the right thing.’

Rishi Sunak confirmed last night that a planned review of the emergency measures will take place next week.

But, in a clear sign the restrictions will remain, the Chancellor said: ‘The priority is to stop the spread of the virus – and the best way to do that is to stay at home.’

One Government source said there was ‘no prospect’ of any easing of the lockdown next week.

Another said: ‘Look at the death toll. That puts the question of whether we’ll be lifting restrictions into context.’  

The Easter weekend is typically one of the busiest for the UK’s roads and tourist destinations.

But an AA survey has suggested that more than 20 million Easter getaway journeys will be scrapped this year as families abandon holiday plans.

Rail companies Northern and TransPennine Express have joined forces with the British Transport Police to launch a campaign reminding people it is ‘not acceptable’ to use services for leisure activities this weekend.

Train operators have introduced amended timetables to help key workers get around and those needing to make essential journeys.

But they said passenger numbers ‘rose dramatically’ during last weekend’s good weather as some people ignored official advice and headed to the coast and beauty spots.

Superintendent Glen Alderson, of British Transport Police, said there would be an increased presence of officers at popular stations over the weekend to ensure people followed government advice.

Meanwhile, the National Trust also urged people to stay at home, with all its properties, gardens and beauty spots already closed during the nationwide lockdown.

In London, where good weather is predicted this weekend, people were reminded that the reduced service running on the capital’s transport network was there only for critical workers.

The number of people using Tube and rail services has plummeted by around 95%, while bus usage has fallen by around 85%, Transport for London said.

In Wales, first minister Mark Drakeford joined council leaders and emergency and health services in signing a letter addressed to the Welsh people urging them not to break lockdown rules.

They wrote: ‘These rules are there to protect you and your loved ones. For most people the virus will cause a mild illness, but there’s a large number of people – children, adults and grandparents – who are at risk of serious illness if they are exposed.’

In Northern Ireland on Wednesday, Stormont Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said: ‘I’m asking all of you to stay at home, which will in turn help protect our families, friends, neighbourhoods and the wider public from this terrible virus.’ 

Meanwhile it has been claimed that gang rivalries have been ‘put on hold’ and violence has ‘stopped’ as members follow the lockdown rules.

Sheldon Thomas, founder of the Gangsline Foundation Trust charity, told Sky News that county lines activity had dropped as police enforce the guidance.

He said ‘cuckooing’, which sees dealers take over vulnerable people’s homes as a base, has also dropped thanks to the social distancing measures brought in.

There were growing concerns last night over the economic impact of coronavirus as the World Trade Organisation warned of the ‘deepest recession in our lifetimes’. 

The British Chambers of Commerce warned that furloughing staff could cost taxpayers £50billion over the next three months. 

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputising for the PM, will hold a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee today to discuss the lockdown.

Mr Sunak said a UK-wide decision would not be taken until next week when the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies reports. He also admitted there would be economic ‘hardship ahead’.

Professor Stephen Powis of NHS England said the lockdown was working. But he added: ‘We have to continue following instructions, we have to continue following social distancing – if we don’t, the virus will start to spread again.’

Polling by King’s College London and Ipsos Mori showed nine out of ten people support the lockdown.