Police out in force in North Yorkshire to prevent Easter 'picnicing' and seaside trips

In a battle to ensure the public follows the rules of social distancing properly, which earlier this week led to several police chiefs call on the Government to tighten Britain's coronavirus lockdown, Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire's police and crime commissioner, urged people to stay indoors.

The PFCC said it was not the time for "picnics" or driving to the seaside on the East coast to Robin Hood's Bay or Whitby, even if the weather was fine.

“This weekend, the sun may be out - but you shouldn’t be. This isn’t the time for day trips or picnics or parties so if you’re thinking of making a trip in or to the Yorkshire Coast, our message is simple - don’t. "

North Yorkshire Police will have patrols in place over the weekend and will be out and about in numbers encouraging people to follow the restrictions, explaining why they are so important and enforcing the regulations where necessary.

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The strong approach reinforces the message delivered at a public briefing led by Julia Mulligan on YouTube on Tuesday about North Yorkshire’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The second in a series of digital updates initiated by the PFCC, Julia Mulligan told the listening and watching audience parents needed to know where their young people are at all times during the crisis.

The audience also heard that police camera vans in North Yorkshire had now been deployed with a new role now that road incidents have decreased - collecting intelligence about people flouting the rules on social distancing.

Earlier in the week, the national press quoted the North Yorkshire PFCC adding her voice to calls for more stringent restrictions to prevent people driving long distances.

Julia Mulligan was quoted as saying: said: “If people don’t stick with the instructions then the Government may well have to consider additional measures."

The North Yorkshire response update also revealed that the percentage of North Yorkshire police officers off work for self isolation and other reasons was currently less than the national average, less than 8%, and had no operational effect on the police here

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