Police officers were mobilised last night to enforce the shutdown of bars, pubs, restaurants and gyms for public safety.

Chief constables in every force in the country engaged civil contingencies designed to respond to events such as rioting and terrorism, allowing longer shifts and making more officers available. Scotland Yard said that officers would be expected to use licensing laws to enforce the closure of venues that refused to comply with the shutdown, and warned staff that their shift patterns may be adjusted.

Ken Marsh, head of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “It’s very simple. Under licensing laws we can revoke their licences, and then they are breaking the law.”

Bars, pubs and clubs need licences to sell alcohol, as do many restaurants. Most gyms