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Coronavirus: New laws come into force as England lockdown eases
Jun 1, 2020
Police in England can order people to leave someone's home if they are breaking new coronavirus laws - but do not have powers to make them leave.
It is now a crime to stay away from home overnight, or to hold gatherings of more than two people indoors, or six people outdoors, under new legislation.
Officers can arrest or fine rule-breakers, but the law does not give police the power to enter homes.
The laws came into force to coincide with lockdown restrictions being eased.
Gatherings of as many as six people from different households can now take place outdoors - such as in parks or gardens - in England, so long as people remain 2m apart.
In Wales, people from two different households can meet each other outdoors. Groups of four to six people who are not in the same household can meet outdoors in Northern Ireland. And in Scotland members of two different households are already allowed to meet outdoors.
What are the latest social distancing rules? Police issue 17,000 fines for lockdown breaches
The changes to the English law were made through a statutory instrument - a type of legislation used to amend rules quickly without them needing to be scrutinised and debated in Parliament.
The chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), Martin Hewitt, said personal responsibility was "key" as members of the public "enjoy these new freedoms".
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