New guidance issued to police officers says that social distancing is no longer enforceable by law.
In a document published by the College of Policing, officers are being told they cannot fine people for ignoring the two-metre rule because it is not included in the amended coronavirus regulations.
Some clarity has been provided as the amended lockdown regulations expressly state that you can visit public open space with one member of another household.
The guidance states that people are still not allowed to leave their homes without ‘reasonable excuse’, but the list of reasonable excuses has been expanded in line with the relaxation of rules.
English citizens are not allowed to travel to outdoor spaces in Wales or Scotland for recreation, because neither country has changed its lockdown laws as yet.
People are still not permitted to visit the homes of family and friends for social purposes, nor are people allowed to go on holiday or stay somewhere other than at the home address overnight.
As of today, reasonable excuses to leave the house examples include:
- collect goods from a business permitted to remain open (click and collect) and visit recycling centres, garden centres and outdoor sport courts
- take part in activity associated with the sale or letting of residential property – including visiting estate agents and attending house viewings
- visit public open spaces alone for recreation to promote their physical, mental or emotional wellbeing
visit public open spaces with one member of another household for the above purpose or, as previously, alone or with members of their household - take exercise with one member of another household or, as previously, alone or with members of their household
