Coronavirus: Man jailed for coughing on police officer – BBC News
‘A man who coughed on a police officer and claimed to have coronavirus has been jailed for six months.’
BBC News, 2nd April 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: enforcement
Coronavirus: Man jailed after hospital visit social media boast – BBC News
‘A man who boasted on social media of visiting a hospital without a medical reason has been jailed for 12 weeks.’
BBC News, 2nd April 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Council and police shut pub that held lock in during lockdown – Local Government Lawyer
‘Ashfield District Council has used its powers working with Nottinghamshire Police to shut a pub under new rules introduced during the COVID-19 outbreak, after the licence holder held a lock in at her pub.’
Local Government Lawyer, 2nd April 2020
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
Coronavirus: Woman ‘wrongly charged under new law’ – BBC News
‘British Transport Police has admitted wrongly charging a woman who was fined £660 under coronavirus legislation.’
BBC News, 3rd April 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Papa Don’t Breach: Parental Liability under the Coronavirus Regulations – The 36 Group
‘The new Coronavirus legislation is only a week old and already there is public discussion over the tactics used by the police to enforce it (notable perhaps was former Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption expressing concern that we are sliding into “a police state”).’
The 36 Group, 2nd April 2020
Source: 36group.co.uk
How Well Do You Know The New Coronavirus Lockdown Rules? – Each Other
‘Am I allowed to drive to take my dog for a walk? Are shops still allowed to sell Easter eggs? Take EachOther’s quiz to see how much you know about the latest coronavirus lockdown rules.’
Each Other, 2nd April 2020
Source: eachother.org.uk
York woman fined for breaching coronavirus rules – BBC News
‘A woman has been fined for breaching coronavirus restrictions after she refused to tell police who she was and why she was at a railway station.’
BBC News, 1st April 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Lawyers echo Sumption’s ‘police state’ warning – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Criticism by former Supreme Court justice Lord Sumption of apparent over-reach by police officers enforcing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions appears to have struck a chord in the legal profession.’
Law Society's Gazette, 31st March 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
The quickly mutating Coronavirus legislation – drafting anomalies and police powers – UK Police Law Blog
‘The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Business Closure) (England) Regulations 2020 at reg 6(1) create a prohibition against leaving one’s home without reasonable excuse rather than being outside one’s home without reasonable excuse. Not only is that narrower than many people had thought, it shapes the powers of a police constable to direct or remove people to their home, which depends upon the constable considering that they have breached reg 6(1). Furthermore, in criminal proceedings for a breach, it may be that the burden of establishing of the defence of reasonable excuse is on a defendant in Scotland but on the prosecution in the other three home nations.’
UK Police Law Blog, 31st March 2020
Source: ukpolicelawblog.com
Criminal Powers in response to Covid-19 – stay indoors instructions – 5SAH
‘On 23 March 2020, the Prime Minister instructed everyone to remain in their homes in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. The overwhelming majority of individuals and businesses have taken steps to comply with that instruction. However, concerns remained about the large number of people continuing to use London Underground, groups of people congregating in public places and a small number of people steadfastly refusing to comply. From the off, law enforcement officials were asking to be furnished with powers to enforce compliance.’
5SAH, 30th March 2020
Source: www.5sah.co.uk
UK police warned against ‘overreach’ in use of virus lockdown powers – The Guardian
‘Police chiefs are drawing up new guidance warning forces not to overreach their lockdown enforcement powers after withering criticism of controversial tactics to stop the spread of coronavirus, the Guardian has learned.’
The Guardian, 30th March 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Draft in haste… Coronavirus restrictions and homelessness – Nearly Legal
‘Here are emergency regulations, The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020, made today. These, amongst many other things, deal with what commercial premises may open, or must be closed, and – to the point here – restrictions on individual movement.’
Nearly Legal, 26th March 2020
Source: nearlylegal.co.uk
Police fine people over social distancing – BBC News
‘Police forces in England and Wales have fined people for ignoring guidance to prevent the spread of coronavirus.’
BBC News, 27th March 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Lockdown Regulations made: restrictions and police powers – UK Police Law Blog
‘The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 were made at 1pm on 26 March 2020 and are now in force. They contain sweeping restrictions never before seen in peacetime in the United Kingdom. They apply to England only and expire in 6 months. They revoke and replace the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Business Closure) (England) Regulations 2020 – leaving the business closures in place.’
UK Police Law Blog, 26th March 2020
Source: ukpolicelawblog.com
Joggergate: How frequently is it necessary to exercise in Wales? – UK Police Law Blog
‘For those wishing to exercise their exercise rights, the new Coronavirus regulations treat English and Welsh joggers rather differently.’
UK Police Law Blog, 27th March 2020
Source: ukpolicelawblog.com
Coronavirus: Police get new powers to enforce protection – BBC News
‘Anyone continuing to break coronavirus lockdown rules will be breaking the law and faces arrest.’
BBC News, 26th March 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
UK police use drones and roadblocks to enforce lockdown – The Guardian
‘A police force has defended using a drone camera to shame people into not driving into a national park during the lockdown, while another force said it was introducing roadblocks to stop drivers heading to tourist hotspots.’
The Guardian, 26th March 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
What powers does “take such action as is necessary to enforce” give to police officers? – UK Police Law Blog
‘The powers in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Business Closure) (England) Regulations 2020 allow a constable to “take such action as is necessary to enforce a premises closure or restriction”. The powers in theCoronavirus Act 2020, schedule 22 (formerly schedule 21 in the Bill) are to enforce a restriction or prohibition on gatherings or events and to close and restrict access to premises during a public health response period. Again, it will allow a constable to “take such action as is necessary to enforce such a restriction, prohibition or closure”. But what does the phrase, “take such action as is necessary to enforce …” mean?’
UK Police Law Blog, 25th March 2020
Source: ukpolicelawblog.com
England: police to get power to use force to impose coronavirus lockdown – The Guardian
‘Police will be authorised to use force to send people back home if they refuse to obey the coronavirus lockdown, under government plans.’
The Guardian, 25th March 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Inducing Breach of Contract: – Reliance on Legal Advice Saves the Day in Court of Appeal – Littleton Chambers
‘In an important decision yesterday (27 February), Allen v Dodd & Co Limited [2020] EWCA Civ 258, the Court of Appeal held that if a person believes their conduct will probably not result in a breach of a contract they will not be liable for inducing a breach even if: (a) they knew there was a risk of breach; and (b) the court subsequently finds such a breach.’
Littleton Chambers, 28th February 2020
Source: www.littletonchambers.com
