
Police chiefs are encouraging Britons to snitch on neighbours they suspect of breaching the coronavirus lockdown rules put in place to protect them and the rest of the public.

Humberside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and Avon and Somerset Police have created a mixture of 'hotlines' and 'online portals' where people can submit tip-offs if lockdown infractions occur.

The portals have been made in response to a surge in the number of calls to the non-emergency 101 number since the PM imposed the most drastic curtailment of civil liberties in either peacetime or wartime.

Concerned citizens are being asked to fill out an online form specifying the nature of the alleged violations.

They can report supposed violations committed by individuals, groups, or businesses to police, and provide officers with the specific address, date, and time of the incident.

It comes as 260 people who tested positive with the coronavirus have today died in a record 24-hour spike, bringing the total number of people who have died with Covid-19 to 1,019.

Britons trying to adjust to life under the coronavirus lockdown are being fined by police officers, and in rare cases arrested for threatening to infect emergency workers by coughing.

Groups of two or more are being dispersed by police across the country, as senior chiefs admit the police are 'essentially powerless' to stop Britons going out more than once a day.

People have continued to flock to Britain's parks and beaches to take advantage of the sunny weather, running and cycling through Regents Park and Richmond Park in London.

Others went for strolls along Brighton promenade and Lyme Regis in Dorset, or sat on Bournemouth beach; police stopped passersby as they continue to enforce strict social-distancing measures.

In other coronavirus developments today:

A record 260 people who tested positive with the coronavirus have died in the biggest 24-hour spike to date, bringing the total number of those who died with Covid-19 to 1,019;

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack self-isolates with coronavirus after Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock catch it;

Humberside, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, and Avon and Somerset have created a mixture of 'hotlines' and 'online portals' where people can submit tip-offs if lockdown infractions occur;

Images from inside ExCeL Centre show construction work to transform the exhibition centre into a hospital;

Andy Burnham has said that hundreds of firms in Manchester have remained open 'without good reason';

Workers who have not taken a holiday because of the crisis will be able to carry it over into the next two years;

NHS staff to be tested for coronavirus from next week at places including Chessington World of Adventures;

The coronavirus social distancing limit is four times too short, Massachusetts Institute of Technology warned.

A police officer talks to a cyclist at Regents Park in London today as he enforces the national coronavirus lockdown

A police officer from North Yorkshire Police ensures that motorists comply with the Government's lockdown restrictions

A man in a face mask and protective gloves is stopped by a member of the Royal Military Police 150 Provost Company at a vehicle checkpoint near Catterick Barracks in Yorkshire to ensure he is complying with Government restrictions

A policeman stops a car at a vehicle checkpoint in Aysgarth, North Yorkshire, to ensure motorists are complying

A member of the Royal Military Police 150 Provost Company, works alongside North Yorkshire Police, at a vehicle checkpoint near Catterick Barracks in Yorkshire to ensure motorists are complying with the Government's resrictions

A man wears a mask during a walk as Sussex Police patrol the promenade in Brighton during the coronavirus lockdown

Police talk to people in Bournemouth town centre gardens today as they enforce the nation-wide coronavirus lockdown

Police patrol Bournemouth beach as Britons are encouraged to snitch on neighbours suspected of flouting the lockdown

A Sussex Police patrol car moves amongst people walking along the promenade in Brighton during the lockdown

Today, 260 people in the UK who tested positive with the coronavirus have died in a record 24-hour spike, bringing the total number of people who have died with Covid-19 to 1,019. Yesterday, 181 people with Covid-19 died

Snoopers can report police for supposed violations committed by individuals, groups, or businesses - putting shops under further pressure. They can also provide the address, and date and time by the minute

Derbyshire and Lincolnshire Police are facing charges of zealotry after using drones to spy upon people who are making 'non-essential trips' like country dog walks.

Liberty's Director Martha Spurrier said: 'This new law is without doubt the biggest restriction on our individual and collective freedoms in a generation.

'What people may not realise is the extent of its powers, and how long they can be in place for.

It gives the authorities new powers to detain any one of us that they deem to be potentially infected with the coronavirus. It also removes vital safeguards in care standards, leaving many people who are already at risk, such as disabled people, at further risk, not only of poor care but also of potentially inhumane treatment.

'This legislation... runs to more than 300 pages and includes some spectacular restrictions, including powers to rearrange or cancel elections.

'We'll beat this virus, but these measures must be a last resort in that battle and these powers must be removed as soon as possible. We cannot and must not sacrifice all of our hard-won rights and freedoms.'

Humberside's Head of the Force Control Room said: 'We are aware there will be individuals who choose not to adhere and understandably, people do want to report this type of behaviour to us as it is risking lives.

'The online portal has been developed precisely for reports of this nature, where groups have been seen gathered, and has a dedicated team who will receive the report as soon as it is made.'

A police officer asks people to leave the beach in Brighton to ensure they are complying with the Government's restrictions

Police are seen breaking up a football game taking place on Roath Rec in Cardiff, South Wales amid the lockdown

Police patrol Bournemouth beach and stop a man passing by as they enforce the nation-wide coronavirus lockdown

Police interact with two men walking through Buchanan Street in Glasgow during the coronavirus lockdown

Members of the public exercising closely at Paddington Recreation Ground in London, during the coronavirus lockdown

A family sit on the beach in Brighton as scores of Britons adjust to life under the nation-wide coronavirus lockdown

People exercise in the early morning sun at Hyde Park in central London, during a lockdown over the spread of Covid-19

Members of the public jogging in Regents Park in London, during a lockdown over the spread of the coronavirus

Cyclists enjoying the sunshine in Richmond Park in London today as scores of Britons adjust to the coronavirus lockdown

A man wears a face masks as a precaution against Covid-19, walking through Battersea Park in London for his daily exercise

As people walk and run through Battersea Park in London today, police are encouraging Britons to snitch on rule-breakers

Police officers speak to a man sitting down in Princess Gardens in the centre of Manchester during the lockdown

A police officer in a vehicle speaks to a man resting on the grass in Greenwich Park in London after the Government ordered a sweeping and unprecedented national lockdown to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus

Avon and Somerset Police officers chat to a dog walker in a park in Bristol, where they are patrolling and enforcing the Government's sweeping and unprecedented national lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack self-isolates at home with 'mild temperature and cough' 24 hours after Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock were struck down with killer bug Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has developed mild symptoms of coronavirus in the past 24 hours and is self-isolating Another cabinet minister has been struck down by coronavirus-type symptoms following Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Health Secretary Matt Hancock. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has developed mild symptoms of coronavirus in the past 24 hours and is self-isolating, he has said. Mr Jack, the Conservative MP for Dumfries and Galloway, said he has not been tested for the virus and his symptoms are a mild temperature and a cough. He said: 'In the past 24 hours, I have developed mild symptoms associated with coronavirus... I am self-isolating and working from home.' It is understood Mr Jack last had direct contact with the PM on Wednesday at PMQs. Advertisement

'If a couple and two children are seen in the park, it's highly likely they are all from the same household and are taking the opportunity for their one form of exercise of the day, which under the guidance is allowed.

'However, if there is a group of 10 people of the same age gathered in a car park, it's more likely they are not from the same household.

'We will not be able to deploy officers to every single report of social gatherings that contradict the Government's advice and dependent on the information within the report will determine our response.

'Responses or outcomes will not be provided to those who submit a report, as would be the case calling 101, but rest assured it will have been received and action taken where appropriate.

'Everyone is pulling together during these unprecedented times and our thanks go out to all of our residents across the Humberside Force area who are following the Government's advice to do the right thing in order to protect the NHS, which in turn will save lives. Please help us in continuing to provide you with a policing service and protecting you by reporting these incidents online and keeping the non-emergency 101 number free for us to deal with all other incidents.'

GMP's Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: 'We are currently facing a very unique situation and this week has been another challenging one for Greater Manchester Police as we adapt our policing style to ensure that we are providing an effective service.

'As with any other large organisation, we have seen a considerable number of our workforce self-isolating or off sick, which can place an additional strain on reduced resources. The calls coming into our control room which require an urgent response have reduced; however we are seeing an increase in the number of reports relating to potential breaches of Government guidelines on social distancing and isolation.

'You may have seen comments I made in the media earlier this week advising what our approach to potential breaches will be.

'Our initial approach will be to engage with any person or licensed premises found not abiding the guidelines before explaining why these rules are important and encouraging them to follow them. If they are not compliant, then as a last resort we will move to an enforcement stage using the appropriate legislation to review licenses or issue fixed penalty notices.

'We will continue to support and work closely with you and will continue to police by consent, but we will enforce the emergency legislation brought in this week where necessary.

'There has been a large increase in the amount of reports made using the Live Chat service on our website and I want to encourage the public to continue using this and 101 for all non-emergency situations. We are answering Live Chat messages between 30 to 60 seconds, so it is a really effective way to communicate with us.'

Meanwhile, Government advisers warned that even stricter social distancing measures could be on the way after 181 people who tested positive for the coronavirus died yesterday in the biggest 24-hour spike yet.

It comes after Scottish Secretary Alister Jack announced he is self-isolating after Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock caught the disease, and Chief Medical Office Chris Whitty displayed flu-like symptoms.

Government advisers said stricter social distancing policies may be rolled out in three weeks as the outbreak reaches its peak to further reduce 'person-to-person interaction'.

This week France announced that individuals could only exercise alone - unless with children - for a maximum of an hour and within 1,000 yards of their homes. Spain and Italy have banned exercise altogether, and there are concerns Britons are deliberately misinterpreting the guidance by travelling to beauty spots miles from home.

A senior adviser suggested the figures would continue to rise for the next three weeks, meaning the peak is likely to hit at Easter. The adviser said hospitals 'should be OK', but added 'we can't guarantee it'.

And should the number of deaths rise significantly, 'greater enforcement' of social distancing policies would be introduced, including 'anything that can be done to push it (down) further'.

A woman wears a protective face mask while shopping at a marketplace in Grantham, Lincolnshire today

A runner passes a hand-painted sign telling would-be walkers to stay at home, attached to a road sign in Bamford, Derbyshire. The village is extremely popular in the Peak District for walkers and others who enjoy outdoor activities

Cyclists were spotted at Lyme Regis in Dorset, which is almost deserted as the country undergoes a sweeping lockdown

People refusing to follow social-distancing measures walk at Lyme Regis in Dorset today amid the coronavirus lockdown

The adviser added: 'I expect death numbers to increase over two, three or four weeks, and then to gradually decrease.' Officials were generally 'very happy' with the levels of compliance with social distancing guidance, despite some Britons travelling some distance to beauty spots in the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales to exercise.

NHS staff will be tested for coronavirus from next week as Chessington World of Adventures car park is turned into drive-thru swab centre for medics, the Government announced yesterday.

The 26ft sneeze zone: Coronavirus social distancing limit is at least four times too SHORT because infectious droplets can fly much further than current 6ft restriction, study warns The UK's social distancing policy appears to be unfolding incorrectly according to a recent study, which shows the advised six foot separation guidelines are failing to stop the spread of deadly coronavirus. Many supermarkets and other places of public importance which remain in operation have been practicing the organised separation of customers, though the simple transmission of Covid-19 shows more now needs to be done, research indicates. A new study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests the gap we currently have in place to distance from one another needs to be around four times bigger. When leaving the safety of home the public are currently being asked to keep a distance of around 6ft 6in, particular when it comes to forming queues in congested supermarkets. Advertisement

Michael Gove, standing in for the PM in yesterday's No 10 briefing, said the Government would be rolling out the tests to boost numbers on the frontline.

Hospitals have been recording staff absence rates of up to 50 per cent as staff or members of their households develop symptoms which means they are forced to self-isolate as they do not know if they are safe to work.

The tests for NHS employees will start with those who are critical care medics or intensive care staff but will also include those working in emergency departments, ambulance services and GPs.

Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, said that as testing volumes increased the service would be expanded to cover a range of essential public workers such as social care services.

There are currently more than 6,200 confirmed coronavirus patients in hospitals across England and a further 846 patients have been treated in intensive care since the start outbreak began.

According to Dr Richard Horton, editor of British medical journal The Lancet, numerous warnings were allegedly issued to the NHS but were not heeded. He also claimed that the Government's Contain-Delay-Mitigate-Research plan had failed.

In an article published earlier today, Dr Horton cited an example from his journal from January 20. He said: 'It failed, in part, because ministers didn't follow WHO's advice to "test, test, test" every suspected case.

'They didn't isolate and quarantine. They didn't contact trace. These basic principles of public health and infectious disease control were ignored, for reasons that remain opaque.'