GUIDANCE has been issued on new police powers - introduced amid lockdown - which are defined by the 'four Es': engage, explain, encourage and enforce.

The Police Federation - the statutory staff association for police Constables, Sergeants, Inspectors and Chief Inspectors - explained how the Public Health Regulations 2020 bill came into effect last week, granting police new powers to enforce lockdown rules.

This morning, West Yorkshire Police Federation tweeted a link to the guidelines, which have been issued by the government in partnership with the Police Federation of England and Wales, the National Police Chief’s Council and the College of Policing.

The guidelines will follow a 'common sense' approach, and the 'four Es' - by which they are defined - are as follows:

'Engage': Officers will, initially, encourage voluntary compliance, when met with a person or a group of people who appear to be flouting lockdown rules.

'Explain': Officers will attempt to remind people of the severity of the situation - those who appear to be in breach of lockdown measures will be told of the risks their actions could bring to public health and to the NHS.

'Encourage': Officers will seek compliance and emphasise the benefits that staying at home will bring to the NHS, and remind people how this can save lives and reduce the risk for the more vulnerable members of society.

'Enforce': Officers will direct individuals to return to the place where they live. This may include providing instructions on the route the person(s) should take, should they not know. Officers may also remove people to the place where they live, using reasonable force, where it is a necessary and proportionate means of ensuring compliance.

Under the new legislation, police officers seeing members of the public breaking quarantine have the power to:

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

Ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking these 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.

Individuals who do not pay a fixed penalty notice under the regulations could be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose unlimited fines.

If an individual continues to refuse to comply, they will be acting unlawfully, and the police may arrest them where deemed proportionate and necessary.

John Apter, National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “We are in unprecedented and uncertain times, but one thing remains constant: saving lives and protecting the public is the number one priority for the police. It is essential that we all come together and play our part in doing so.

“The practicalities of policing this lockdown will be challenging, but these new powers will assist us in keeping the public safe. We welcome the College’s advice in implementing these powers and rest assured, it is not a responsibility that any of us take lightly.”

To read the full guidelines, visit the College of Policing website.