A quick thread on the most draconian restrictions on liberty since the Second World War and the almost complete failure to scrutinise and assess police powers /1
The 'lockdown regulations' prevent us leaving the place we live without a reasonable excuse, gathering in groups of more than 2 not from our household, and close most businesses. They give police powers of enforcement including fines, criminal offences and use of force /2
The regulations came into force on 23 March. They were under emergency powers so had *no debate* and *no vote* in parliament. Look at the timings! /3 legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/… 
They do have three safeguards built in. First, @MattHancock has to review them every 21 days and terminate any restriction which is no longer strictly necessary. 2nd, they have to be voted in by both houses by 16 May (7 weeks after they came into force)... /4
Third, they end in any event after 6 months, i.e. 22 September.
BUT
@MattHancock hasn't published any detail of his first review. The second is due this Thursday - I imagine we won't get any more than a 'tick' or a 'cross'. /5
BUT
@MattHancock hasn't published any detail of his first review. The second is due this Thursday - I imagine we won't get any more than a 'tick' or a 'cross'. /5
And - the regulations have already been approve by the House of Commons with only a cursory debate. Most importantly, there is no readily accessible data about how the police are using their powers, when, where and against whom. So we don't know, for example, whether the regs /6
... are having a disproportionate effect on any particular community, e.g. BAME or disabled people. There have been anecdotal stories of misuse of power and CPS is so concerned about misuse of powers that they are reviewing every conviction. But we have no systematic data /7
On 23 March we were in an acute emergency. It was, for a few days, possible to excuse a messy introduction of powers. But 6 weeks on MPs should be demanding police data AND @MattHancock's detailed review so it can meaningfully scrutinise how these powers are being used. /8
The emergency regulations must be approved by the House of Lords by 16 May, next Saturday. Parliamentarians have a duty to properly scrutinise what is going on so that they can understand whether the lockdown laws remain propionate. /9
I suggested in this article a four-part test to make good emergency laws. We are failing on scrutiny and I am concerned it will only be months or years later that communities will be pickling up the pieces prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/coron… /end
