Re: Where is Priti Patel?: David Lammy demands answers as 8,000 tourists enter UK daily
No holidaymakers arrested at airports in England despite Priti Patel’s coronavirus crackdown
Friday 26 March 2021
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-b1823157.html
No holidaymakers have been arrested for violating a “ban” on non-essential foreign travel despite a crackdown announced by Priti Patel, according to figures obtained by The Independent.
The
Home Office claimed that police could arrest people who remained intent on going on holiday after being stopped at an airport, saying:
“Holiday travel is not allowed and police can fine anyone trying to do so, direct them to go home and, if necessary, use powers of arrest.”
Data gathered through freedom of information requests suggest that zero arrests have been made under coronavirus laws at airports in England in the two months since the home secretary said police would start enforcing the prohibition.
Hundreds of thousands of people have flown in and out of the country since the announcement, including
half a million passengers at Heathrow Airport in February alone.
On 27 January, the home secretary said going on holiday was “not a valid reason” to leave home during England’s coronavirus lockdown and added: “Anyone who does not have a valid reason for travel will be directed to return home or they will face a fine.”
Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), said “Police will not automatically stop travellers, though officers will continue to question people about the reasons for their travel in the airport terminals or the car park or the other points of entry and exit. With the new legislation in relation to travel coming into force on Monday, if officers do discover anyone who is breaching the rules, then we will issue a fine where necessary.”
No police force that responded to The Independent’s freedom of information request had recorded any arrests under coronavirus laws at an airport since 27 January.
It means potential holidaymakers have not been detained at Heathrow, Luton, Birmingham, Newcastle and other major international airports.
So, determined, and wealthy, tourists seem to be able the come and go from England at will .....