Home rule

Police have been told to fine Covid rule-breakers after just one verbal warning in another ramping up of lockdown enforcement, reports say. Officers 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'. Forces across England have urged people to stay home and avoid travelling as they continue to fine Covid rule-breakers. Several constabularies issued the message on Saturday as doctors said pressure on the NHS from coronavirus could get worse in the coming weeks. Elsewhere key workers became some … [Read more...] about Police ‘are told to fine Covid rule-breakers after just ONE verbal warning’ as three officers ‘arrest a woman for sitting on a bench’ and another is surrounded for ‘leaving her house more than once’

What is a 'reasonable excuse' for going outside? Under the rules in England, you must not leave or be outside of your home except where you have a 'reasonable excuse'. This will be put in law. The police can take action against you if you leave home without a 'reasonable excuse', and issue you with a fine (Fixed Penalty Notice). You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400. A 'reasonable excuse' includes: Work - you can only leave home for work purposes where it is unreasonable for you to do your job from home Volunteering - you can also leave home to provide voluntary or charitable services Essential activities - you can leave home to buy things at shops or obtain services. You may also leave your home to do these things on behalf of a disabled or vulnerable person or someone self-isolating Education and childcare - you can only leave home for education, registered childcare, and supervised … [Read more...] about So much for staying at home! Crowds of people head to beaches and town centres despite Boris Johnson begging families to stay at home as Covid deaths hit 563 – the deadliest Sunday in eight months

Scotland's ski slopes are seeing the best conditions in years after weeks of 'high quality' snowfall - as they remain shut due to to lockdown rules. Glencoe Mountain has reported its best snowfall ever - while Cairngorm Mountain has seen 'high quality snow' on its popular slopes in recent weeks. But snow sports enthusiasts are unable to enjoy the white stuff this season, as Nicola Sturgeon's stay-at-home order - announced last month - forced ski centres to close their doors again. Her announcement - swiftly followed by a similar one from Boris Johnson - only permits Scots to leave their homes for essential purposes - and ski-ing holidays are not included. Cairngorm Mountain's team of 'skeleton' staff - on hand to maintain equipment during the closures - were seen bundled up in ski gear as they carried out their daily tasks today. Scotland's ski slopes (Glencoe Mountain, pictured) are seeing the best conditions in years after weeks of 'high quality' snowfall - as they remain shut … [Read more...] about Perfect snow…but keep off-piste! Scotland’s ski slopes have their best conditions in years after weeks of ‘high quality’ snowfall – but remain closed because of Covid rules

A police raid on a gym in Liverpool which breached Covid rules by refusing to close  saw officers pin a man to the floor and wield batons at customers and staff who attempted to flee.  Three people were arrested and 52 people were fined when police raided Prophecy Performance Centre in Speke, Merseyside, on Sunday afternoon.  CCTV footage from the scene, shared on social media, shows gym goers trying to escape out the back of the gym before police officers try to stop them from getting away - with one appearing to swing a baton. The clip also shows a group of officers restraining one person before pulling them to the ground when they resist.   Officers were tipped off that Prophecy Performance Centre had been welcoming fitness enthusiasts in defiance of the national lockdown.  Police raided Prophecy Performance Centre in Speke, Merseyside, on Sunday afternoon and used force on some people outside the gym Officers were tipped off that Prophecy Performance … [Read more...] about Moment gym is raided by police in Liverpool for breaching Covid rules by refusing to close as officers PIN man to floor and wield batons at ‘customers and staff’ attempting to flee

Banning relatives from visiting their loved ones inside care homes could become illegal in the UK, it has been reported. As part of the third national lockdown to help prevent the spread of coronavirus visiting relatives inside care homes in England is controlled, with inside visits all but banned. Under current guidance all care homes, except in the event of an active outbreak, should seek to allow for outdoor visiting and 'screened' visits. Visits in 'exceptional circumstances' including when at the end of life are also permitted. Now, new legislation has reportedly been drafted in a bid to allow families the right to receive visits again. Do you think the law should be changed? Let us know in the comments below The Daily Mail reports that the proposal will be presented to Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Wednesday. Reportedly, the new legislation will give all residents of care homes the right to receive visits from a close relative or friend. Harriet Harman, chairman of the … [Read more...] about Banning relatives from visiting loved ones in care homes ‘could be made illegal in Britain’