Lincolnshire Police officers handed new powers to enforce lockdown

Under the measures, officers will be able to hand anyone breaking lockdown rules a £60 fine.

The powers, which were passed under emergency legislation at Westminster, are designed to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Police will be able to instruct people to go home and avoid non-essential travel, under the powers.

For those who break the rules, it means police can:

Instruct them to go home, leave an area or disperse;

Ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking the rules;

Issue a fixed penalty notice of £60, which will be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days;

Issue a fixed penalty notice of £120 for second time offenders, doubling on each further repeat offence.

For those who do not pay the fine, they could be taken to court where magistrates will be able to impose an unlimited fine.

Police will also be able to arrest those who continue to fail to comply.

Home Office officials have said, however, that officers will “apply their common sense and discretion” in the first instance.

In Sleaford area, police have already taken steps to disperse gatherings including a group of teenagers in Ruskington and four adults having a kick about were spotted.