Review of PSNI’s approach to Covid-19 lockdown regulations

By Mark Rainey
Published 19th May 2020, 14:33 BST
PSNI officers on bicycles talk to members of the public as they patrol Ormeau Park in Belfast - enforcing social distancing regulations - on Good Friday. Picture: Stephen DAvison/PacemakerPSNI officers on bicycles talk to members of the public as they patrol Ormeau Park in Belfast - enforcing social distancing regulations - on Good Friday. Picture: Stephen DAvison/Pacemaker
PSNI officers on bicycles talk to members of the public as they patrol Ormeau Park in Belfast - enforcing social distancing regulations - on Good Friday. Picture: Stephen DAvison/Pacemaker
The response of the PSNI to the Covid-19 crisis is to be reviewed by the NI Policing Board (NIPB).

Following a number of cases where members of the public did not appear to understand the new social distancing requirements, or chose not to adhere to them, concerns were raised in some areas that the police response was not proportionate.

New legislation to limit the spread of Covid-19 gave police the power to issue a £60 penalty notice for a first breach of the regulations.

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Unprecedented in peacetime, the stringent social distancing measures contained in The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) regulations (NI) 2020 required everyone to stay at home except for a small number of reasons – including designated essential work, exercise close to home or food shopping.

Soon after the new powers came into force, police mounted a number of operations to deter people from travelling to caravan parks and popular beauty spots.

The PSNI faced some criticism that the legislation was not been enforced uniformly in all areas – and in some cases officers were accused of exceeding their powers.

Announcing the review, the NIPB said: “Generally speaking, the public have accepted that these powers are necessary and appear to be complying with them. However, there have been examples across policing services of members of the public not understanding or adhering to the guidance and instances where police action or enforcement activity has not been proportionate.”

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Following intense media scrutiny, Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said: “The regulations provided by the Department of Health were produced in order to deal with the current health emergency. Greater clarity in the regulations would have undoubtedly made our job easier; however, we recognise the difficult circumstances under which the regulations were produced and the ultimate desire to save lives.“

As the gradual easing of the lockdown restrictions begins this week, the PSNI has said it will review the guidance issued to frontline police officers accordingly.

ACC Todd said: “We will continue to work closely with our partners across government locally and nationally and develop our policing approach to support any future changes, in order to protect the public.”

The policing board said that while PSNI’s approach to their new powers “appears generally proportionate,” the NIPB will examine “the policing approach to the exercise of the new dispersal powers alongside any other operational policing decisions taken in response to Covid-19 that have the potential to impact on public confidence in the service as a whole”.