Why 'one size policing' won't work during the lockdown, according to a North East police boss
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Forces across the UK have made different interpretations of new rules to try and limit the spread of COVID-19, including potentially unlimited fines, since they were unveiled by the government, and have now been issued with new guidance.
While some forces have faced criticism for heavy handed tactics, Steve White, County Durham and Darlington’s acting Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner (PCVC), thinks officers need to develop tailored methods of enforcing rules in different locations, even within force areas.
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Hide Ad“One of the reasons we have 43 police forces across the UK is because there isn’t a one size fits all approach to policing,” he said.
“We cannot have different laws in different parts of England or for different forces and I’m not advocating that, but having the legislation doesn’t mean it has to be enacted at every opportunity and that is why a local approach is appropriate.”
He said very different policing was needed for urban and rural areas, for example.
White, previously the PCVC’s chief executive, was appointed to the top job on a temporary basis after incumbent, the late Ron Hogg, stepped down due to illness.
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Hide AdNew government guidelines allow officers to arrest or fine anyone suspected of breaching social-distancing rules.
Fixed penalty notices start at £60 but can be doubled for repeat offenders, while magistrates can impose unlimited charges.
But White, a former chairman of policemen’s union the Police Federation, hopes the powers will be a ‘last resort’.
“We’re taking a pragmatic approach to people calling in, we’re examining what the legislation says and implementing an approach that is intelligent and proportionate,” he added.
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Hide Ad“I’m confident we’re taking the right approach, we’re starting this at this level because it is likely to go on for some time and, as people become more frustrated, we may have to think again about our approach.
“But by starting at a low level it gives the constabulary somewhere to go to, should things need to go up a level.”