Former Chief Constable brands it "nonsense" that police will charge homes at Christmas

28 October 2020, 10:18 | Updated: 28 October 2020, 10:22

"It's nonsense that police will charge homes at Christmas"

By Fiona Jones

Former Chief Constable Dr Stuart Hyde assured LBC that the police will deal with rule breaking around Christmas "sensitively" rather than "kicking the door down and seizing the turkey."

Christmas family gatherings are liable to be broken up if they breach lockdown restrictions, police chiefs have warned.

West Midlands police and crime commissioner David Jamieson confirmed that officer will investigate reports of rule-breaking over the festive period.

Eight million people face living under the toughest restrictions by the end of the week, which prevents household mixing, as Nottingham and Warrington are the latest regions to be placed under Tier Three lockdown.

Former Chief Constable Dr Stuart Hyde said that if the police receive reports of a celebration breaking lockdown, they will "find a sensitive way of dealing with it."

"The idea of police officers charging through doors to disrupt people eating their turkey is, quite frankly, nonsense," he said, "I'm absolutely certain that the police officers not just in the West Midlands but across the country have started to get used to dealing with allegations and will deal with it appropriately."

Nick asked at what point the police would get involved and start knocking on doors if it is not at seven people eating a turkey.

George Eustice on Christmas and Diwali

"I'm absolutely certain that each of the forces would have looked at the tiers, looked at the regulations, and looked at how they can enforce them positively but making sure they're not creating 'disorder and riots'," Dr Stuart said, telling LBC it is "sensitive" policing that will resolve this difficult issue.

Nick questioned whether tougher policing may come in to force, citing Manchester citizen Carys Ingram who was fined over £6000 for breaching self-isolation rules after she posted a picture of herself on Instagram in a restaurant.

"Had you said to me at the start of the year that would never happen in a country like the United Kingdom, sadly, it has," Nick said.

The former chief responded, "I'm absolutely convinced that the vast majority of requirements to deal with these allegations will be dealt with sensitively, rather than a sort of kicking the door down and seizing the turkey."

Former Conservative leader and MP Iain Duncan Smith wrote of his fears that the UK is turning into a "police state."

"I think if he replaced the 20,000 officers that have been removed over the last 10 years and doubled up on that we might even have a chance of producing that," Dr Stuart quipped, "there is no way this is a police state.

"We all have to comply with the Covid rules, we all have to do our bit and I'm absolutely certain that we will not be and are not living in a police state."

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Nigel Farage 'reduced to tears' over ECHR rule which saw Albanian criminal's deportation 'halted over chicken nuggets'

Nigel Farage 'reduced to tears' over ECHR rule which saw Albanian criminal's deportation 'halted over chicken nuggets'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage joins farmers and their tractors at Belmont Farm in north London

Farage urges farmers to 'keep the pressure up' as tractor protest hits Westminster over Labour’s ‘family farm tax’

Exclusive
Calls for police to reinvestigate parish councillor who 'blew up' neighbour's cat

Parish councillor resigns after being accused of trying to ‘blow up’ beloved pet cat

Exclusive
Calls for police to reinvestigate parish councillor who 'blew up' neighbour's cat

‘It made me feel physically sick’: Cat owner’s fury at parish councillor accused of trying to ‘blow up’ beloved pet

Nick Ferrari Reflects on an Unforgettable Journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust Survivor Arek Hersh

Nick Ferrari reflects on an unforgettable journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust survivor Arek Hersh

Actress and Writer Dame Maureen Lipman reads The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Actress and Writer Dame Maureen Lipman reads The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Exclusive
Online extremism under scrutiny: The Prime Minister calls for tougher regulations to curb access to violent content following the Southport murders.

Terrorism ‘kill guides’ shared in social media groups targeting 'loners' and people 'obsessed with violence'

Southport attack was ‘not an act of terrorism,’ Met chief Sir Mark Rowley tells LBC

Southport attack was ‘not an act of terrorism,’ Met chief Sir Mark Rowley tells LBC

Exclusive
The Chagos Islands deal is set to be a 'disaster' for US-UK relations, a former Home Secretary has said

'Surrender' of Chagos Islands to Mauritius would be 'disaster' for Labour's relationship with Trump, Braverman says

Exclusive
Britain's deal to cede the Chagos Islands has been cast into doubt

Labour deal to hand over Chagos Islands thrown into doubt as Starmer gives Trump time to 'consider' agreement

Exclusive
The UK and Mauritius said they have made "good progress" on a revised agreement, with Mauritian PM Navin Ramgoolam claiming the UK wants it finalised before Donald Trump is sworn in as president on January 20.

UK 'mid negotiation' over Chagos deal as government deny they're rushing deal through before Trump takes office

Rachel Reeves says UK must go 'further and faster' in search of growth - as Chancellor faces criticism over China visit

Rachel Reeves says UK must go 'further and faster' in search of growth - as Chancellor faces criticism over China visit

Rachel Reeves faces growing scrutiny as market jitters spark calls for fiscal clarity

Rachel Reeves faces growing pressure as market turmoil raises questions over Labour's fiscal credibility

Exclusive
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York 'thrilled' to support Nick Ferrari's Kids Who Read Succeed campaign.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York 'thrilled' to support Nick Ferrari's Kids Who Read Succeed campaign

Reform is “fixed” in favour of Nigel Farage, former deputy leader claims as he hits back at former boss

Reform is 'fixed' in favour of Nigel Farage, former deputy leader claims as he hits back at former boss

Nigel Farage has told LBC he has "no desire to go to war with Elon Musk".

Nigel Farage tells LBC he doesn't want 'war' with Elon Musk and he plans to 'mend fences' at Trump's inauguration