The Government must include “no surprises” and have “absolute clarity” when it comes to easing lockdown restrictions, the National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales has warned. John Apter spoke to the BBC’s World at One about the challenges involved in policing the reopening of the UK. The police have been criticised for an over-interpretation of the rules regarding the coronavirus shutdown and perhaps enforcing the guidelines too heavily.

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Mr Apter told Radio 4: “I represent 120,000 police officers who are out there doing their best.

“Unfortunately it’s clear that despite the legislation being quite clear, the guidance has conflicted sometimes with that legislation.

“Some people have found it confusing even up until now.

“We’ve had to deal with that, and educate people and support them throughout this crisis.”

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He continued: “But whatever the easing of restrictions looks like, my plea to Government is that there must be no surprises.

“It must be fair and there’s got to be absolute clarity.

“Not only for the public, but also for my colleagues who are going to try to police it.

“It is going to make it very difficult.”

The National Chair added: “I would never say it’s impossible to police because then we’re giving up, and we can’t do that.

“The country, and in fact globally, we’re in a health crisis no one has never seen before.

“So my colleagues will always step up and do their absolute best.”

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Mr Apter said: “We need any changes to be implemented, and the legislation to be changed accordingly, to be fair.

“They need to be in line with the principles that we hold so dearly in this country, that we do police by consent.

“But my colleagues can only police with the public support.

“There will always be an element of the public who will always push against the rules of society that are in place.

“But I would plead with the public to support your police. Without that, it’s going to be near-on impossible.”

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