Read on Twitter
UK Police:“We will not at this stage be starting to marshal supermarkets and check-in the items in baskets and trolleys to see whether it is a legitimate necessary item but...if people do not head the warnings...we will start to do that” - @NorthantsChief
The UK law: "During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse”. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/made
If we do ban people using physical shops for non-essential items that could put even more pressure on supermarket delivery services which those in need are already struggling to access.
People shopping shouldn’t have to fear encounters with the police. https://twitter.com/RTaylorUK/status/1246054663885139968
The police have now back-tracked on the statement. Good. The apparent retraction needs to be given the same prominence as the original statement: https://twitter.com/NorthantsChief/status/1248200618340241408
Speaking on a @facebook live event @NorthantsChief has said: "I may have been clumsy in that language"..."officers and staff of @NorthantsPolice will not carry out basket or trolley searches attempting to ascertain the relevance of the items purchased". https://www.facebook.com/northantspolice/videos/810425479465164/
Speaking @talkRADIO the Home Secretary @patel4witham has condemned @NorthantsChief’s comments suggesting the police could search people’s supermarket trolleys for non-essential items describing them as “not appropriate”
