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Police State UK?
Police state UK: Police AND PCSOs can fine people if they aren't wearing a mask or don't have a good reason to be out and EVERYONE at an illegal gathering faces penalties of up to £10,000 - and the rules don't expire until MARCH 31
The regulations underpinning the drastic curbs have come into effect in England after Boris Johnson said he was left with 'no choice' due to the mutant strain running rampant. The whole country has essentially been plunged into a toughened version of Tier 4, with a ban on leaving the home unless there is a specified 'essential' reason. The law states that police and PCSOs can use 'reasonable force' to make people stay indoors, or break up gatherings. The Met Police said this morning that it will be taking a harder line than before, issuing fines 'more quickly' to anyone committing 'obvious, wilful and serious breaches'. Those flouting the law on wearing masks 'can expect to be fined - not reasoned with', and people attending parties face penalties along with the organisers. Fixed penalty notices of £200 will be issued for a first offence, doubling for further breaches up to a maximum of £6,400. Those holding an illegal gathering of more than 30 people risk fines of £10,000. Tory MPs have been alarmed that the regulations have extended the expiry date of the tiers system from February 2 to March 31 - despite the PM claiming that the system can start to be eased from mid-February if vaccine rollout goes well. Local authorities will also keep powers to control public gatherings and specific premises in their areas until July 17, rather than January 17 as previously.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9117399/Lockdown-LAW-Boris-Johnson-set-face-MPs-ahead-vote.html
Crime commissioner calls for law change to allow officers to force entry into homes of suspected rule-breakers while Scotland Yard tells cops to 'to issue fines more quickly'
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said he has urged the government to give officers power of entry, to help 'enforce the new regulations more easily.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9117625/Crime-commissioner-calls-officers-force-entry-homes-suspected-rule-breakers.html
The regulations underpinning the drastic curbs have come into effect in England after Boris Johnson said he was left with 'no choice' due to the mutant strain running rampant. The whole country has essentially been plunged into a toughened version of Tier 4, with a ban on leaving the home unless there is a specified 'essential' reason. The law states that police and PCSOs can use 'reasonable force' to make people stay indoors, or break up gatherings. The Met Police said this morning that it will be taking a harder line than before, issuing fines 'more quickly' to anyone committing 'obvious, wilful and serious breaches'. Those flouting the law on wearing masks 'can expect to be fined - not reasoned with', and people attending parties face penalties along with the organisers. Fixed penalty notices of £200 will be issued for a first offence, doubling for further breaches up to a maximum of £6,400. Those holding an illegal gathering of more than 30 people risk fines of £10,000. Tory MPs have been alarmed that the regulations have extended the expiry date of the tiers system from February 2 to March 31 - despite the PM claiming that the system can start to be eased from mid-February if vaccine rollout goes well. Local authorities will also keep powers to control public gatherings and specific premises in their areas until July 17, rather than January 17 as previously.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9117399/Lockdown-LAW-Boris-Johnson-set-face-MPs-ahead-vote.html
Crime commissioner calls for law change to allow officers to force entry into homes of suspected rule-breakers while Scotland Yard tells cops to 'to issue fines more quickly'
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said he has urged the government to give officers power of entry, to help 'enforce the new regulations more easily.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9117625/Crime-commissioner-calls-officers-force-entry-homes-suspected-rule-breakers.html
Comments
The clampdown on people leaving home without 'good reason' came as Boris Johnson (inset today) was accused of quietly extending his lockdown until March 31 as his new COVID law was published and he ducked Tory demands to guarantee 'malicious' rules are eased after his first review on February 15. Council Covid wardens were also out in force across the country as the authorities vowed to fine mask-flouters, groups of more than two people or anyone out of the house without 'good reason' at least £200 on the spot. West Midlands Police has asked for permission to force entry into homes to break up parties. Scotland Yard's constables were filmed chasing protesters through Parliament Square (main picture and right) today before putting them in handcuffs as officers were heard telling people gathering illegally: 'I'm going to issue you a fine if you don't return home'. People were pinned to the ground and cuffed - including on the plinths of the famous statues there including Mahatma Gandhi's - before being put into vans after refusing to leave Westminster. Around two miles away Met officers arrested supporters of Julian Assange as he was denied bail at Westminster Magistrates' Court this morning, including a 92-year-old man (left) and several other pensioners. The hard-line from the Metropolitan Police came as England's new lockdown laws were published and it was revealed they will be enforced until Easter. Thames Valley Police has apologised for the behaviour of an officer who they said was 'a bit keen' in handing out leaflets asking drivers 'why are you here?' as part of a crackdown on travel during lockdown in wealthy Maidenhead.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9117399/Lockdown-LAW-Boris-Johnson-set-face-MPs-ahead-vote.html
I understand the police are there to enforce the law. What I am against is the over zealous enforcement of laws that have removed at a stroke what it is to live in a free and open democracy.
People going for a drive in their self countained vehicle bubble should not be criminalized for staving of boredom by going for a drive.
Also does anyone else find it disgusting that the Thames Valley Police issued an apology to "wealthy" Maidenhead residents while the met chased the hoi palloy commoners through the streets of London?
Scotland Yard revealed officers will be told to stop civilians in the street and quiz them on why they are not shut away in their homes. Anyone who cannot give a lawful excuse will be fined up to £6,400 and those caught without face coverings in necessary areas will also be slapped with an on the spot penalty notice. The ratcheting up of enforcing the rules comes as police chiefs dish out new instructions to officers in England and Wales to fine people more quickly when their breach is obvious. It comes on a day where police arrested 28 protesters for flouting restrictions in London (left and bottom right), fined four friends £800 for travelling in the same car to McDonald's (top right) and policemen pulled over motorists to check where they were going. Meanwhile Boris Johnson (inset) extended his third national lockdown until March 31 as his new Covid law was published and he ducked Tory demands to guarantee 'malicious' rules are eased after his first review on February 15. The PM had told the Commons ahead of the vote on the measure on Wednesday night he had 'no choice' but to clamp down on those flouting the rules to curb the spread of the mutant Covid strain sweeping the country. He saw off Tory rebels as the measures were passed into law in the House by 524 votes to 16, an overwhelming majority of 508.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9119981/Police-enforcing-lockdown-laws-fine-people-time-caught-not-wearing-mask.html
What worries me is that governments and authorities don't tend to readily give up powers they've acquired during a crisis.
They should give up the powers when the crisis is all over.
We are a low way from there.
They are the ones who should be hit the hardest as they are "role models" and in the public eye. With status comes responsibility.
Two police officers knocked on a door in Aberdeen at 11.20pm on Wednesday after a member of the public reported a breach of coronavirus restrictions. Gatherings are banned in the UK to ease pressure on the NHS as the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise. Footage shared online showed a police officer standing inside the hallway of a home as a woman was held back by another man. She said: 'My house. That is bullying. This is my house. Get out of my house. I did not ask you in here.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9123839/Coronavirus-Scotland-Three-people-charged-assaulting-police.html
Covid crackdown Britain: Drivers are turned away from beauty spots while police question parents with pushchairs about where they are going and FOUR cops surround man outside Tube station
Ms Patel spoke out after the Met revealed officers will be told to stop civilians and quiz them on why they are not at home and four friends were fined £800 for travelling in the same car to McDonald's.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9121471/Priti-Patel-backs-police-quizzing-people-sitting-park-benches-lockdown.html
EXCLUSIVE: Jonathan Van Tam went for a curry on same day Boris Johnson told Londoners to avoid restaurants due to Covid risk - then claimed the £21.77 meal on the taxpayer
Jonathan Van Tam spent £21.77 on a meal at Pakhtoon Restaurant on March 16
That same day, Boris Johnson urged all people in the UK to avoid contact
He put pubs, clubs and non-essential travel off limits to slow the spread of Covid
Warned Londoners to 'pay special attention' to advice and avoid restaurants
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9125621/Jonathan-Van-Tam-went-curry-Boris-Johnson-told-Londoners-avoid-restaurants.html
Litmus testing on behalf of government to see what they can get away with next
A police force has come under fire after threatening people with fines for breaching coronavirus lockdown laws if they’re caught playing in the snow.
Officers from West Mercia Police issued the warning after they received reports of people throwing snowballs on Thursday night.
The Broseley and Wenlock Safer Neighbourhood Team, in Shropshire, tweeted that snowball fights would likely be in violation of the government’s tough lockdown rules, which were introduced earlier this week.
They wrote: “This is obviously not a justifiable reason to be out of your house, this behaviour is likely to result in a £200 Fixed Penalty Notice for breaking the lockdown rules.”
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-police-force-warns-fines-playing-snow-145709542.html
Floyd Langridge (pictured), 44, was holding his cigarette as he walked home with supplies when he says he was approached by a Covid marshal in Tonbridge, Kent.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9127573/Covid-marshal-sacked-chasing-innocent-man-searching-threatening-ARREST.html
Officers in England will 'move through the gears' and charge people £200 if they think a person is flouting the restrictions and they will not go home when asked once. It comes as footage emerged showing three police officers surrounding a woman for allegedly leaving her house more than once in a day. Another four officers appear to arrest a different woman for what she claims was 'sitting on a bench' on the seafront. Meanwhile Priti Patel defended the way police have handed out fines for breaches, stressing there is a 'need for strong enforcement'.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9130133/Police-told-fine-Covid-rule-breakers-just-ONE-verbal-warning.html