Police patrols ramped up to enforce quarantine for international travellers

12 February 2021, 00:01

Police patrols will be increased across English ports and airports
Police patrols will be increased across English ports and airports. Picture: PA

By Kate Buck

Police patrols across airports and ports will be ramped up as strict hotel quarantine rules come into force for people arriving into England, Priti Patel has announced.

From Monday, UK nationals or residents returning from 33 "red list" countries will be required to spend 10 days in a Government-designated hotel.

Those who fail to follow the rules face fines of up to £10,000, and anyone who lies on their passenger locator forms face up to 10 years in jail.

Read more: No quarantine hotel rooms available for day new rules come into force

The Home Secretary announced more police would be deployed to check the reason for passenger journeys and to help "ensure compliance of arrivals from red-list countries who will be part of the mandatory quarantine scheme".

It comes as she pledged £60 million to police forces in England and Wales to cover the extra costs of enforcing coronavirus pandemic rules.

Priti Patel will be LIVE with Nick Ferrari on Call the Cabinet. Listen in from 9am

Priti Patel pledged £60 million to police forces in England and Wales to cover the extra costs of enforcing coronavirus pandemic rules.
Priti Patel pledged £60 million to police forces in England and Wales to cover the extra costs of enforcing coronavirus pandemic rules. Picture: PA

Forces will be reimbursed for costs they have already incurred as a result of their additional duties and also fund fresh enforcement action planned at airports and ports.

Most of the cash (£58 million) will pay for things like officer overtime and making police stations Covid-secure.

The remaining £2 million will be shared between forces tasked with having an "increased presence and enforcement of regulations at airports and ports, to ensure travellers are complying with the new border health measures" and should cover costs of the extra police activity to the end of March, according to the Home Office.

Read more: Tocilizumab - Thousands of Covid-19 patients to receive 'life-saving' arthritis drug

Ms Patel said: "Our police officers have worked tirelessly to keep the country's streets safe while enforcing the coronavirus regulations to protect the NHS and save lives.

"The public also have a vital part to play - this includes not travelling unless essential, which is why police will also be stepping up checks at airports.

"We are committed to supporting them as they continue this crucial activity and are providing specific funding for coronavirus costs."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus plunges from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

Exclusive
Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says

Covid no excuse for death of Finley Boden who was murdered by drug-addled parents, child protection chief says