Police will be expected to exercise their discretion in enforcing the “rule of six” coronavirus regulations, Downing Street said today as the rules came into effect across England.
The government has made it illegal to “mingle” under the new law enabling the enforcement of rules.
People have been told they "must not meet socially in groups of more than six."
The new policy dubbed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the "rule of six" has been brought in as an attempt to reduce the number of Covid-19 infections, which have seen a sharp recent uptick.
Yesterday, there were 3,300 new positive cases announced by the government.
At a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday last week, Mr Johnson said the new rules would be enforceable by law.
He said that the rules will "apply in any setting, indoors or outdoors, at home or in the pub."
Anyone found breaking the rules faces being dispersed by police, fined £100 and possibly arrested.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has said it will set out further guidance for officers on how to respond to unlawful mingling, Number 10 indicated.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The NPCC will set out guidance for police forces, but police are used to using their discretion in upholding the law and I’m sure that’s what they will do in this case.”
The six-person limit provides “clarity” for officers, the spokesman added.
Downing Street suggested police would not immediately start imposing fines today on people who break the “rule of six” restrictions.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “What you would expect to happen is for the police to be out today encouraging people to follow the new rules but in the coming days, if we see people continuing to flout the new rules, it is right that people could face a fine.
“The regulations are in place to help to stop the spread of the virus, to protect the NHS and to ultimately save lives.”
The government guidance, says when seeing friends and family you do not live with you should:
- Follow social distancing rules
- Limit how many different people you see socially over a short period of time
- Meet people outdoors where practical: meeting people outdoors is safer than meeting people indoors because fresh air provides better ventilation
There are a number of exceptions to the rules involving before and after-school clubs for children and youth groups, jury service, sport, for education, training or registered childcare (including wraparound childcare).
Work and voluntary and charitable services are other exceptions.
And when everyone lives together or is in the same support bubble - or if there's a need to continue existing arrangements where children don't live in the same household as both their parents.
Other exceptions include providing emergency assistance or support to a vulnerable person.
