POLICE chiefs want the government to give them even more lockdown powers to stop people ignoring social distancing rules.
At least five chief constables support bans on long car journeys and outdoor exercise as they gear up for a sunny Easter weekend.
Police and crime commissioner for North Yorkshire Julia Mulligan – the force which brought in checkpoints for cars – has said the government would need to bring in stricter measures.
She told The Guardian: “If people don’t stick with instructions then they [the government] may well have to consider additional measures.
“Obviously there is concern. There are plans in place.
“People should see a lot of yellow vests [officers in high-visibility jackets] on the roads this weekend. There will be a lot of activity on the roads, stopping vehicles.”
She added: “There is a lot of preparation to get the message out to people not to visit beauty spots and we have had complaints from farmers who are seeing 20 cars in their lanes and people going walking.”
One police leader said forces covering partially rural areas thought the government had not gone far enough with restrictions.
They said people should need to prove they were doing something essential, rather than the police needing to prove they were flouting restrictions.
They said: “We need to say you can’t drive. The burden needs to be on the individual not the state to prove reasonableness.”
“If the test changes, a lot less people would think: ‘Rover does not need to be driven to a national park today.’”
Police sent speed and traffic camera data to the government to prove that road use last weekend was up nearly 10 per cent in some areas in comparison to the weekend before as they angled for more control.
They are urging ministers to give them the powers they need to keep lockdown enforced over Easter.
People have been ignoring social distancing rules and flocking to parks and beaches across the country as the weather warms up.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned last weekend restrictions would have to be tightened if people continued to ignore the lockdown.
A government evaluation of lockdown powers in England is considering tougher restrictions such as those in force in Wales – including restricting exercise to once a day.
Welsh police also have a stronger ability than their English colleagues to ensure open spaces do not become crowded.
One source said tougher restrictions would be more palatable in England because Wales had already introduced them.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has already suggested tightened restrictions for the capital.
He said: “The Met Police will be busy patrolling parks and open spaces across London this weekend – urging Londoners to do the right thing and follow the rules.
“I desperately want us to be able to keep our green spaces open for the millions of people that need them for essential walks and exercise – but that means everyone doing the right thing.”
Some London parks have already closed because of over-crowding.
Last weekend Cumbria reported people travelling long distances and in Cornwall surfers have been spotted at beaches.
Police in Suffolk issued 178 warnings after receiving 119 calls from people reporting others ignoring the restrictions.
Cambridgeshire police have set up an online form allowing people to easily report potential lockdown breaches – a move that has been labelled “revolting” by critics.
Similar systems are in place in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Avon and Somerset and Kent.
