Police cannot go into homes to check if lockdown rules are being breached
A National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and College of Policing memo said: “From June 1 2020, the approach to restrictions has changed.
“Rather than requiring a reasonable excuse to leave the place where a person is living, there are specific things that members of the public cannot do.
“A person may now leave and remain outside of the place where they live for any reason, subject to restrictions on gatherings and overnight stays.”
The guidance issued to officers on the powers that they have to police overnight stays said: “You may only direct a person to return home. There are no powers in the regulations to remove someone or use force. Fixed-penalty notices (FPNs) and arrest still apply, where appropriate.”
Officers still have existing powers at their disposal to gain entry to a property where they suspect illegal activity to be taking place.
In public places, “direction, removal and/or use of force can still be used”, the guidance said, adding: “If you are lawfully in a private place you can only direct a prohibited gathering to disperse, or any person in the gathering to return home. FPNs and arrest still apply, where appropriate.”
June 1 marks the start of the next phase of the easing of the lockdown measures. Here is how the Government hopes to lift the UK out of the lockdown and back to some form of normality: