London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jul 07, 2025

People should report their neighbours for Covid violations, minister says

Neighbours who ‘mingle’ should be reported to the police if they are in breach of the new ‘rule of six’ coronavirus restrictions, a Home Office minister said.
Most gatherings of more than six people in England are now against the law with people advised to stick within the same social group in order to slow the spread of the Covid-19.

Furthermore those considering changing social groups are advised to self isolate for two weeks before doing so in order to help limit the spread of the contagion.

With the new legislation in effect from today Policing Minister Kit Malthouse has suggested people ring the non-emergency 101 number if they have concerns laws are being breached.

Mr Malthouse said if people saw ‘that kind of thing’ they should consider calling the police.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘We are in discussions about what reporting mechanisms there might be, but there is obviously the non-emergency number that people can ring and report issues they wish to.’

Pressed on whether that would involve reporting a gathering of seven or more in a neighbour’s garden, Mr Malthouse said: ‘It is open to neighbours to do exactly that through the non-emergency number, and if they are concerned and they do see that kind of thing, then absolutely they should think about it.’

Gatherings of more than six people in England is against the law, with fines rising to £3,200 for repeated breaches.

Mr Malthouse told Times Radio he decided to cancel his child’s birthday party to avoid breaking the rules.

‘You cannot meet socially in groups of more than six in England and that includes children,’he said.

‘While I understand that people will say ‘they are mixing in school anyway’, this is not about eliminating contact, it’s about limiting contact.’

How strictly the new rules are enforced remains to be seen with Downing Street suggesting the policy was aimed more at ‘egregious’ breaches than smaller gatherings.

Asked whether people should report their neighbours, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘What we want people to be focused on is following the new rules and ensuring that they, themselves, help again as they have in the past to slow the spread of the virus.

‘What you have seen in recent weeks is some egregious flouting of the rules, such as the holding of large illegal parties, and members of the public have been contacting the police about those because they have been concerned about the risk to public health.’

National Police Chiefs’ Council chairman Martin Hewitt denied the approach effectively meant they would be relying on people ‘grassing up’ their neighbours.

He told BBC Breakfast: ‘I think what it relies on is all of us being responsible.’

The rules do allow for more than six people to attend gatherings ‘operated by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body’, or at outdoor events organised by ‘a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution, a public body, or a political body’ so long as attendee stick to their groups and do not ‘otherwise mingle’.

What constitutes unlawful mingling will be left to police discrection, Downing Street said.

‘Police are used to using their discretion in upholding the law and I’m sure that’s what they will do in this case,’ the Prime Minister’s spokesman said.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, leads the Metropolitan Police’s response to coronavirus. He said officers will patrol public spaces and respond swiftly to incidents where groups gather in large numbers.

‘Where people just won’t listen, and are putting everyone at risk, we absolutely will take enforcement action,’ he said.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
×