Police Given Just 16 Minutes to Enforce COVID Laws, Inquiry Reveals
Former National Police Chiefs’ Council chairman Martin Hewitt has lifted the lid on chaos behind the scenes at the start of the UK’s coronavirus crackdown. At a recent Covid inquiry hearing, Hewitt revealed police had a mere 16 minutes to enforce brand-new, signed-off laws – handed down by then Health Secretary Matt Hancock – before the rules officially kicked in at midnight.
Speaking about the confusion, Hewitt said: “We received the regulations signed off by the secretary of state for health (Mr. Hancock) at 11.45” for rules meant to start at 12.01am. He slammed the rushed process and muddled messaging from ministers that made enforcement a nightmare.
Ministers’ Mixed Messages Spark Police Frustration
Baroness Heather Hallett didn’t hold back either, criticising the confusing legislation and calling for a totally different system to prevent such chaos in future pandemics. She warned the current setup risked both public and police confusion.
Former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel admitted the system was strained and blamed the Department of Health and Social Care’s “inflexibility” for delays. She said bluntly: “I think there would need to be a different system, completely. A totally different system.”
£10,000 Fines and Boris Johnson’s ‘Bigger Fines’ Notes Spotlighted
The inquiry also exposed how Boris Johnson pushed for huge fines for Covid rule breakers, with handwritten notes urging “bigger fines.” Dame Priti blasted the policing of the Sarah Everard vigil as “totally inappropriate.”
While extraordinary police powers largely remained unused, Hewitt and Hallett stressed the urgent need to sharpen up the law. Local tiered rules and constantly shifting regulations left citizens struggling to keep up, adding to the mess.
No Border Plans and A Call for Constant Overhaul
Dame Priti also confessed the UK had no sophisticated border plans early on in the pandemic. She highlighted how the response required “constant questioning and iterative processes” to adapt.
The inquiry shining a spotlight on the UK’s Covid response reveals one clear lesson: next time, the system must be faster, clearer, and far less chaotic.
