Caption: People out in London today (Picture: PA, Reuters)

Mounted police and volunteers shout at Londoners to respect social distancing rules during sunny weekend

Police mounted on horseback, recorded messages and volunteer wardens with megaphones have been reminding people to follow lockdown advice.

Locals in east London’s recently reopened Victoria Park, were urged to abide bynew social distancing measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Signs bearing new rules at the hugely popular public space informed people of a ban on picnics, ball games and sunbathing, with cyclists being told to dismount upon entry.


Metropolitan Police officers on patrol in Victoria Park, east London as warm weather tests the nationwide lockdown (Picture: AFP)

A mounted copper offers advice to people using Victoria Park (Picture: PA)

Announcements could also be heard over loudspeakers telling people to follow the measures or face being moved on or fined.



The park and Tower Hamlets council came in for intense criticism three weekends ago after pictures posted on social media showed a local market in the grounds bustling with people despite government guidance to practice social distancing.

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The furore, which occurred days before a nationwide lockdown came into effect, prompted the park to shut for a fortnight, before reopening on Saturday with restrictions in place.

Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs said he had ‘had it in the neck from lots of people who are unhappy that we closed’ the park.

He said: ‘That’s because there were a minority of people who were not following the rules.’

The closure of the biggest park in one of the nation’s most densely populated boroughs led to increased congestion on nearby streets and canals, s it was quickly reopened.

Park wardens use a megaphone to offer advice at Victoria Park, in east London, after it was reopened with reduced opening hours and new control measures (Picture: PA)

Londoners in Victoria Park during the coronavirus lockdown (Picture: PA)

‘Like a lot people in London we have learned things… we can’t get everything right,’ Mr Biggs said.

‘With the coronavirus, it (the high population) means there’s a higher risk of things spreading, and I suppose it’s no accident that London is ahead of the curve.’

‘There’s been a lot of frustration that it’s been closed, we’re a very dense borough,’ he added. People need some space to breathe.’

East London has been associated in recent years with the emergence of hip cafes and artisan markets, many of which have taken a hit following the government’s measures to tackle the pandemic.

While some have shut down entirely, others have continued to thrive despite the restrictions.

The popular Ginger Pig butcher just north of Victoria Park had a queue stretching around the block on Saturday as it continued serving with limits on how many customers could enter the store at one time.

Mr Biggs said that with so many people in the area, it was difficult to prevent large queues at peak times.

‘We had a supermarket in another part of the borough where the queue was half a mile long, which is clearly ridiculous.

‘We need to recognise that, particularly at weekends, people are finding it tough.’



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