New powers given to police in England mean no-one will be allowed to leave their home “without reasonable excuse”. The measures came into force last week and will last six months, with a review every three weeks.

What are the police’s powers?

To ensure people stay at home and avoid non-essential travel, police will be able to order people to go home, leave an area or disperse.

If you break the rules, the police will issue you with a £60 fine, which can be reduced to £30 if paid early.

Fines can also be much higher if you repeatedly break the rules.

You must tell officers your name and where you are going or you will risk arrest.

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The latest police guidance on enforcement does not specify what forms of proof would be required if you were leaving the house to make an essential trip, such as caring for a vulnerable person or heading to the supermarket.

It states that officers will apply the law “in a system that is flexible, discretionary and pragmatic.

The guidance states: “This will enable officers to make sensible decisions and employ their judgement. Enforcement should be a last resort.”

Concerns were raised over the weekend about police being overzealous with their new powers.

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Amid anger at some forces setting up checkpoints and using drones to target people visiting rural beauty spots, guidance has been reissued and updated for how police can police the public during current events.

The update aims to forge more consistency across 44 forces in England and Wales.

A woman was arrested and convicted for breaching lockdown regulations and fined £800.

The woman refused to tell police her name or where she was going.

Two men in England have also been convicted of coughing on key workers, and anyone who does will face serious criminal charges. One of them has been jailed.

Under strict measures to fight the coronavirus outbreak announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier last month, people are only allowed to leave the house for specific reasons:

• Shopping for “basic necessities”, as infrequently as possible
• One form of exercise a day such as a run, walk or cycle
• Medical reasons, to provide care, or to help a vulnerable person
• Travelling to and from work, but only if it is “absolutely necessary” and cannot be done from home

All measures will last for three weeks from 23 March before being reviewed.

Several new activities which have been permitted by the Prime Minister include moving house, fulfilling legal obligations and to escape injury, illness or the risk of harm.

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