Met Police chief Cressida Dick today warned that officers will force people to move if they are caught sunbathing in parks during the current lockdown as more photos emerged showing Britons flouting social distancing rules.
Officers were today seen patrolling Greenwich Park in south London where hundreds flocked to enjoy the sun on the weekend, prompting Number 10 to yesterday confirm that sunbathing was banned as a ‘non-essential activity’.
Photos also emerged of a group of ten youths drinking lager by the River Stour in Dorset, while in Sheffield residents of a housing estate were criticised for continuing to gather in large groups on the street.
It came as the number of UK coronavirus deaths reached 5,373, with 51,608 confirmed cases, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson remained in intensive care after being admitted overnight.
An officer speaks to a member of the public today in Greenwich Park, south London, where this weekend police were seen urging sunbathers to move on
A person sunbathes today on Hampstead Heath in north London, as police upped their efforts to keep people indoors
A couple exercising in a park opposite St Thomas’ Hospital in London, which is not against the rules
Dame Cressida said: ‘The new restrictions are obviously difficult for some members of the public to get used to. It’s extremely important that we all do try to comply with them and we in the police of course have our part to play.
‘We will always try to advise people to explain, to encourage people to comply and if necessary to move on, not to stop and sunbathe – that’s not exercising or travelling to work or shopping.
‘If we have to we will be very firm in that, if somebody completely refuses – but this is an absolute last resort – it will result in enforcement.
‘I think the vast majority of the public expect us to do that but the tradition of the Met is always to start by advising people.’
She declined to comment on whether tighter restrictions were needed, but said: ‘The Met will stand by and be ready to assist whichever direction they go in whenever that is.
This weekend saw officers using megaphones to urge people to move on from parks unless they were exercising, and police are preparing for more enforcement action as temperatures look set to soar to 75F leading up to the Bank Holiday weekend.
In Christchurch, Dorset, local resident Shona Blunden, 48, spotted a group of youngsters drinking beer by the River Stour before one of them jumped into the water fully-clothed.
Mrs Blunden said: ‘The lockdown is going to go on for a hell of a lot longer if behaviour like this carries on.
‘If people can’t start behaving, we won’t be able to go anywhere. People are dying and these kids think it’s one big joke.’
Mrs Blunden said she called the police, who she said informed her that they would escort each person from the gathering home if they found them.
Today, photos emerged of a group of ten youths drinking lager by the River Stour in Dorset. The image was taken yesterday
Residents of the Page Hall housing estate in Fir Vale, Sheffield, were criticised for continuing to gather in large groups in the street. This pictured was taken on the weekend
In Sheffield, a former local councillor criticised residents of the Page Hall housing estate in Fir Vale who were continuing to gather in large groups on the street amid the lockdown.
Ibrar Hussain said the message to stay indoors ‘isn’t getting across’ and urged the police to take a ‘firmer’ approach to tackle the problem after receiving multiple reports from worried residents.
‘Although the soft approach is good at times you have to be firmer because it’s unfair for people who live there,’ he said. ‘They are frustrated and angry because these crowds could spread the virus.
‘Their lives have changed and their quality of life has been diminished in this crisis and if the rules are not observed then God help us.’
Police have come under additional pressure in previous weeks from thugs spitting and coughing at them while claiming to have ‘corona’, leading to some calls for spit hoods to be issued to all officers.
Speaking today, Dame Cressida called such incidents ‘completely unacceptable’ and said they would continue to be ‘dealt with firmly’.
‘Some people have been convicted and received very strong sentences for spitting or coughing at a police officer,’ she said.
Yesterday, 19-year-old Thomas Wilson was jailed for six months at Warwick Crown Court for threatening to cough and spit in a female officer’s face while he was being detained.
Met Police chief Cressida Dick today warned officers will force people to move if they are caught sunbathing in parks during the current lockdown
It comes as a father was fined £480 because after his son was caught flouting coronavirus lockdown rules four times.
West Midlands Police said the fixed penalty notice could be doubled and reach as much as £960 if the teenager continues to go outside without good reason.
The neighbourhood policing team in the Blakenall area of Walsall said the youngster had been out three times, prompting a warning to the boy’s father.
But the boy – who had been abusive to police – then went out a fourth time, prompting the fine.
There have been concerns police forces will be stretched by an increase in absences related to coronavirus.
Today, Dame Cressida did not reveal how many officers were off sick or self-isolating, but said the Met was providing a good service for Londoners.
She added: ‘Some of our demands have gone down and of course we have some other new demands, but we are a strong and resilient organisation.’