Coronavirus: Follow the rules or face a fine, warn police
Police today pledged to enforce Covid-19 measures, threatening to fine those who break the rules £100.
Forces in the region say they will be active in preventing people from meeting in groups of more than six.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night said the steps were essential if another full lockdown was to be avoided.
The Police and Crime Commissioner for West Midlands Police, David Jamieson, said the force would be prepared to fine those who “put other people’s lives at risk” when the new measures are introduced.
And Matthew Ellis, the Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue, and Crime, said people need to take action now – as the new announcement shows the “seriousness of the situation”.
New rules on social gatherings come into force on Monday. Mr Johnson also said plans to allow spectators into some events were also being suspended.
The new measures apply to gatherings indoors and outdoors – including private homes, as well as parks, pubs and restaurants. Gatherings of more than six people will be allowed if is for work or education purposes. Exemptions will also apply for weddings, funerals and Covid-secure organised team sports.
Mr Jamieson said the “worrying rise” in infections seen in areas including Birmingham and Wolverhampton shows the need for action. He said: “I know the overwhelming majority of law abiding people in our region will continue to follow rules without hesitation. But officers are prepared to fine those who put other people’s lives at risk.”
Meanwhile pubs in the region have been left concerned about the impact of the new measures.
Keith Fullwood, landlord of the Royal Oak, off Compton Road, in Wolverhampton, said: “We have found the news around the new social distancing guidelines to be a little bit disappointing as we have followed all the existing guidance and this pub is probably very secure and safe.
"Now, we have been given further restrictions and I think it’s going to impact on the business immensely as we’ve been going on nicely and this will impact on our revenue.
“We are making plans ahead of the government announcement as we know they’re going to do it and what we’d like to avoid is a full lockdown, as we were closed for four months as a result. We can only get 36 people in the pub at present, which is not a Government regulation, but what we consider as being safe.
“We have been asking people to go outside and we have made a large patio area by encroaching on the car park, but now we have got to sit only six people at a table then the tables are eight seaters. We are making plans ahead of the Government announcement as we know they are going to do it and what we would like to avoid is a full lockdown, as we were closed for four months as a result.
“We want to ask customers to please observe social distancing rules so we all feel safe and not pass on this virus to family members and vulnerable people.”
Meteoric
Jamie Atkins, the landlord of the Great Western in Wolverhampton, said: “We have been following all guidance rigidly from the start, with instructions that they are not to be diluted, so whatever has got to be done, will be done. We are fortunate in that we have got a large indoor area, so keeping social distancing isn’t a problem in regards to the reduction of numbers that we might get.”
Lych Gate Tavern landlord, Hayley Hall, added: “The only way it will affect the business going forward is that we were looking to start taking bookings for our function room going forward.
“We had a wedding listed on Friday for around 15 people which we can do, but we are going to have to cancel all future bookings.”
Meanwhile MPs across the Black Country and Staffordshire have urged residents to follow the new rules – to avoid another national lockdown.
Wolverhampton South West MP Stuart Anderson said: “We have seen a national lockdown and nobody wants to go back to that and we must do anything we can to keep people safe.
“It is a measure I support so we can control the virus and I hope the enforcement measures are not needed, but they should be enforced if necessary.
“Following the measures will keep us safe, so I plead with residents in Wolverhampton and say to them we need to follow the rules.”
Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield, added: “This is unwelcome news, but sadly very necessary. If we do not want to suffer the meteoric spike that is happening across the continent, measures like these need to be taken.
“Frankly, I find going out with four people is enough and six does me just fine. I hope that a vaccine will be found and then we can all return back to normal.”