Local police have warned “this is not a game” as some members of the public fail to comply with new measures put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The new measures, were put in place last night, Monday 23td March as Boris Johnson addressed the nation.
This evening in a post on Facebook, Paignton police warned “excuses of not knowing what your children are doing will not be accepted.”
In the full post, Paignton Police said: “Most people are complying with the latest government instructions regarding self isolation. To all those people, thank you. This helps us and our emergency service colleagues battle this virus. Unbelievably though, there have still been reports of people and particularly teenagers and children failing to comply with the Governments latest instructions.
“Let us make things abundantly clear, you can only leave your home for the following reasons:
– Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible.
– One form of exercise a day – alone or with members of your household.
– Any medical need, or to provide care or help to a vulnerable person.
– Travelling to and from work, but only where this work is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY and cannot be done from home.
“Other than these reasons, you cannot leave your home.
“THIS IS NOT A GAME. The above is an instruction, it is not advisory. We will have legal powers to deal with those people who flout these laws. We can also utilise anti social behaviour legislation to disperse people.
“To all parents, excuses of not knowing what your children are doing will not be accepted. Schools are shut, most people are working from home or conducting child care. You are responsible for your children’s education and their activities. Above all, you are responsible for their health and you will be held accountable. Potentially, failure to adhere to the above government instructions could be deemed as a failure to safeguard your children and the community in general. Partner agencies will be informed where we have concerns about people’s abilities to parent their children properly in this crisis. You will also be liable for any fines that are accrued by your child breaching government instructions.
“Everyone must comply with the above. If you feel this does not apply to you, expect to receive financial sanctions if caught.
“Please share amongst your family and friends. This message must be understood and complied with, for the health of all of us. The quicker we can beat this virus, the quicker we will return to normality.”
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