Scotland Yard on Wednesday said that its officers stand ready to take enforcement action if “absolutely necessary” and called on the UK population to comply with the law and stay indoors as part of the lockdown measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick said that since Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “stay at home” announcement on Monday evening, officers have been on the streets of London to advise people and businesses of the new rules.
“We will only use enforcement if we absolutely have to but we won’t hesitate if there are people who are deliberately breaching the law. But I think the vast majority of people will want to comply with the law to keep their society safe.
“We’ve shown time and again our ability to adapt, to rise to a challenge, to flex and surge our resources and our staff, and even in the darkest of time to be able to keep people safe and give a good quality police service. I am determined we will do that,” she said.
Her message came as it emerged that police had to step in to break up a barbeque gathering of 20 people in Coventry, central England. “Officers felt they needed to end the gathering by tipping over the BBQ and insisting the group dispersed to their homes,” West Midlands Police said.
“It’s vital everyone follows the new lockdown instructions. They are essential and will save lives,” the force said.