Coronavirus: Some police forces may have gone too far in enforcing UK lockdown, transport secretary admits

Senior Tory minister praises officers but acknowledges 'individual examples' of misuse of powers

Some police forces may have gone too far in enforcing the UK’s nationwide lockdown, a senior Conservative minister has admitted, following criticism of alleged overreach by officers.

Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, said British police had done a good job in general during the coronavirus crisis so far but acknowledged there might have been individual instances of officers pushing too hard to enforce social distancing measures.

“The police are doing a difficult job and they are doing it well,” Mr Shapps told Sky News on Tuesday.

“I am sure there are individual examples where perhaps you look at it and think that is perhaps a bit further than they should have gone.”

He added: “But in general terms I think the case is that if people help everybody out, including the police, by staying home and the rest of it, then there will be no problems.”

The transport secretary also reiterated the importance of the public following the government’s measures to slow the spread of Covid-19.

“I think the danger is that people perhaps imagine we’re on top of this before we are,” Mr Shapps said.

“There will be a lot of tough days to come yet and sadly more deaths.”

The minister’s comments followed criticism of some police forces over the handling of new powers introduced to enforce the UK’s coronavirus lockdown.

Lancashire Police issued 123 fines for breaches of the rules over the weekend, while officers in Cheshire summonsed six people for various offences, including multiple people from the same house going out to buy “non-essential” items.

Derbyshire Police has also been criticised for using drones to film walkers in the Peak District and posting some of the footage on social media to deter people from travelling to the area.

On Monday, Lord Sumption, a former Supreme Court judge, likened the enforcement of Britain’s lockdown to a “police state” and said Derbyshire Police’s use of drones was “disgraceful”.

However, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) denied reports that new guidance was being drawn up to prevent “overreach” by officers enforcing the lockdown.

“We are not rewriting our guidance to officers,” the NPCC tweeted in response to a story by The Guardian.

“It remains the same as it was. Engage, explain, encourage and finally enforce.

“This is a fast changing situation and we, along with the public, are adapting as we go forward.”

Neil Basu, the Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner, has urged people to not judge officers too harshly during the lockdown but noted police needed to preserve public confidence through persuasion and education.

“Everyone in policing is acutely aware that how we police this pandemic will be remembered for many years to come,” Mr Basu wrote in The Daily Telegraph.

“Preserving the trust and confidence of the public by policing by consent is our mantra, and has been since 1829.”

He added: “There will be a period of readjustment to our new responsibilities, which no police officer ever thought they would have.”

Additional reporting by AP