Thread by @BBCDomC

*IMPORTANT NEW GUIDANCE* from @PoliceChiefs in England & Wales who now have powers to enforce social distancing.

Here are the rules on what you can do outdoors - and how you could be fined.
These come after days of public confusion over the message from government.

THREAD:

1. The role of the police is to step in if people disregard their civic duty to stop mingling. Gathering together spreads the coronavirus - and that means the NHS will be overwhelmed.

2. But government experts say people still need to exercise for the good of their physical and mental health. So the police have a difficult job in enforcing the new rules. The NPCC says "use your common sense" when considering if you need to go out - and how you go about it.

Q: Can I go to a local beauty spot in my car? A: There is no law against it. Question is whether it makes sense. Is it really local? Will it have a jammed-up car park? Will it be teeming with other people?

Police are really concerned about people having accidents in rural locations - adding to the emergency services pressure. So they're appealing to people to use their common sense about where they go to exercise.

The head of the NPCC @MHewittNPCC says: “This is a national emergency, not a national holiday... The point is to try to avoid people contaminating others. Where we do not want to get to, as we approach a weekend, is places of natural beauty being absolutely packed with people."

Q: The PM said on Monday that people will "only be allowed" one form of exercise a day. Is that true? A: That's not part of the law that came into force yesterday. But... you could still be fined if police think your movements are making the situation worse.

Q: Can my family meet up with another? Can I team up with my best cycling/running buddies even if we are keeping our distance? A: No - and that would risk a fine because it amounts to a gathering. Police have powers to break up gatherings, except immediate family.

The full rules are here: legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/…