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A group of people who gathered on Westminster Bridge to join in with the Clap for our Carers campaign have been criticised for showing a "concerning" lack of social distancing during the round of applause.

A video posted to Twitter shows police cars parked on the central London bridge, as crowds gather in front of them to clap for NHS staff and key workers on the frontline during the coronavirus pandemic.

But the clip has prompted backlash amid concerns people were not standing the required two metres apart during the applause.

A junior doctor who shared the footage on Twitter said: "I'm a doctor working at the hospital that's right there. And yes, I was also somewhat perplexed by the lack of social distancing..."

Also sharing the video, Dale Lowe said: "Should we applaud the stupidity of every person on Westminster Bridge.

"No social distancing, not staying at home and certainly not protecting the NHS. You couldn’t make this up."

Responding to the footage, the Met Police said it "regularly reminds its officers of the importance of social distancing where practical". Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick was on the bridge to lead dozens of officers in the weekly applause for key workers.

Downing Street also stepped in, urging people to follow social distancing guidance. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We would ask that everyone takes responsibility and adheres to social distancing rules so that we can safely show our appreciation for those who are working so hard to fight coronavirus.”

He added: “We would ask that in showing their appreciation for those who are working so hard as carers, they do so in a way which adheres to the social distancing rules.”

After the video was shared online, one Twitter user wrote: "Regardless of the time, and your clapping for NHS staff, you don't get immunity in this period!

"Police are NOT enforcing social distancing AT ALL; they are complicit."

Others said: "This is so silly - yes praise the NHS but not whilst you’re mixing in the city centre not socially distanced from others and therefore potentially adding more stress to the NHS and putting yourself and others at risk."

In a separate video, footage shows police cars parked outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital with sirens on, as officers stand and pay tribute to the NHS.

But the clip also shows crowds gathering behind the police cars and on the streets, prompting concern from members of the public about the lack of social distancing.

Commenting on the footage, Twitter users called for people to "stop clapping and start dispersing".

One user wrote: "I see social distancing doesn't apply on Thursday evenings."

Another said: "Couldn’t care less about the clapping, you’re encouraging a crowd to form."

Clap for our Carers during lockdown: Thursday 16th April 2020 26 show all Clap for our Carers during lockdown: Thursday 16th April 2020 1/26 NHS workers hold a Thank You Captain Tom message outside the Aintree University Hospital Reuters 2/26 Nurses applaud outside University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 3/26 Soldiers at the Wellington Barracks, London, salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 4/26 Mark Black and his sons, Thomas (left), four, and Adam, 10, from Markethill in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, play Lambeg drums outside their home to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 5/26 NHS workers applaud outside King's College Hospital Reuters 6/26 An NHS staff member wipes her eyes as she holds a sign to thank British veteran Captain Tom Moore AFP via Getty Images 7/26 Soldiers at the Wellington Barracks, London, salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 8/26 Nurses outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, as they join in to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 9/26 A woman stands on a balcony with placards in support of the NHS AP 10/26 Police officers at Westminster Bridge during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters 11/26 Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab clapping outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 12/26 Firefighters take a picture before the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters 13/26 St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay on the North East coast is illuminated blue in recognition and support of NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 14/26 Nurses outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 15/26 Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak clapping outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 16/26 Police officers in the street near to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 17/26 Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Dr Gregor Smith Scotland's interim chief medical officer applaud outside St Andrew's House, the headquarters building of the Scottish Government in Edinburgh, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. PA 18/26 Labour leader Keir Starmer takes part in a national "clap for carers" to show thanks for the work of the NHS AFP via Getty Images 19/26 Traffic, firearms, patrol, mounted and dog units from Avon and Somerset Police join in the applause in Clevedon, Somerset, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 20/26 People stand in the street near to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. PA 21/26 Residents applaud from their block of flats in Glasgow as they to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. PA 22/26 Nurses outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, as they join in to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 23/26 A dog in at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, helps to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 24/26 Nurses applaud outside University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 25/26 The scene outside Leeds General Infirmary as members of the emergency services salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 26/26 A double decker bus is decorated in support of the NHS at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 1/26 NHS workers hold a Thank You Captain Tom message outside the Aintree University Hospital Reuters 2/26 Nurses applaud outside University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 3/26 Soldiers at the Wellington Barracks, London, salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 4/26 Mark Black and his sons, Thomas (left), four, and Adam, 10, from Markethill in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, play Lambeg drums outside their home to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 5/26 NHS workers applaud outside King's College Hospital Reuters 6/26 An NHS staff member wipes her eyes as she holds a sign to thank British veteran Captain Tom Moore AFP via Getty Images 7/26 Soldiers at the Wellington Barracks, London, salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 8/26 Nurses outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, as they join in to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 9/26 A woman stands on a balcony with placards in support of the NHS AP 10/26 Police officers at Westminster Bridge during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters 11/26 Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab clapping outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 12/26 Firefighters take a picture before the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters 13/26 St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay on the North East coast is illuminated blue in recognition and support of NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 14/26 Nurses outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 15/26 Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak clapping outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 16/26 Police officers in the street near to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 17/26 Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Dr Gregor Smith Scotland's interim chief medical officer applaud outside St Andrew's House, the headquarters building of the Scottish Government in Edinburgh, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. PA 18/26 Labour leader Keir Starmer takes part in a national "clap for carers" to show thanks for the work of the NHS AFP via Getty Images 19/26 Traffic, firearms, patrol, mounted and dog units from Avon and Somerset Police join in the applause in Clevedon, Somerset, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 20/26 People stand in the street near to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. PA 21/26 Residents applaud from their block of flats in Glasgow as they to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. PA 22/26 Nurses outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, as they join in to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 23/26 A dog in at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, helps to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 24/26 Nurses applaud outside University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 25/26 The scene outside Leeds General Infirmary as members of the emergency services salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA 26/26 A double decker bus is decorated in support of the NHS at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic PA

Another called for the officers to "stop clapping and start dispersing that large group of people right next to you, if you really wanna help the NHS".

NHS England has advised that people should be keeping to the latest Government advice of staying two metres away from other people.

A spokesman for the Met Police said: "Officers, along with other emergency service workers, came together last night on Westminster Bridge to celebrate the work of all key workers.

"A large number of members of the public also gathered to express their gratitude.

"While many people adhered to social distancing guidance, it appears that some did not.

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"We regularly remind our officers of the importance of social distancing where practical, and will continue do so."