months old, he by the time he was 30 months old, he lost control of bodily function by the time of 60—month—old he was dead. my brotherjohn was born... my brother william was born in 1950 and he died seven months. he doesn't have a death certificate. he doesn't have a death certificate. he doesn't have a death certificate. he doesn't have a medical certification of death. there has been this commission. we have had its report finally after several years, we have had interim reports before. what do you make of this final report and also what the irish taoiseach has been saying. i am apocalyptic. for the first time in a long time i am ata the first time in a long time i am at a loss for words. to me, this sounds like a complete whitewash. i haven't read the report in detail but it seems like the blame is

shifted on site society and i have caught some of the members in the group and they said, it was a lack of kindness. and she said what an understatement. the concern was in the stripping of human rights, not good manners. this is a gallop through decades of institutional abuse. there is no evidence of criminality... what am i listening to? women had done physical and commercial work for which they were not paid. this is not slavery? i could go on and on. and the plan that the government is putting in place, the, the government action

plan, and again... you say you are apoplectic because you want the catholic church named as the people who did this effectively and you wa nt who did this effectively and you want compensation as well for the victims. conversation for the victims is one pa rt conversation for the victims is one part of it, but we need it to be clear for what happened here, part of it, but we need it to be clearfor what happened here, not part of it, but we need it to be clear for what happened here, not in a single package to report and date back as it appears to be, what i have listened to on the web for the last hour, hour and a half. there was nothing, nothing, no justification of anything that people have said, i have sat and have listened for the last year. i have listened for the last year. i have known my own story right in the research and there is nothing in it, they are coming up with survivors centred approach, of course it is all the survivors and the prodigy ——

the apology is not taken into it. actions, we are sick of the apologising, they point as the magnum, this was illegal and criminal what happened. access to personal information. they have convoluted between people who were adjusted after the adoption act, we know that they are because of the adoption act, they don't like there isa adoption act, they don't like there is a difference under the constitution, there is a balance of rights going on, there was a bell hanging around in parliament for four years, and when it fell early last year, that bill, they went back addressed again. people were born in these homes and illegally adopted. prior to 1953, there is no bar on them getting their information, they wa nted them getting their information, they wanted to put it up. why would you

get —— but why would you we haven't even got the truth yet. we haven't got the report yet. i apologise, we have not this is kind of desk above later, this is howl have not this is kind of desk above later, this is how i feel. the recognition and the one part here the dignified burials, the promised way back, regarding the dumping of 796 children that there would be a full excavation and that there would be an exhumation. which happened already, but dna of these bodies, that does not appear to have happened, it appears to be getting a very watered down. listen, we have run out of time, but... i am sorry. no, we have got the message, as you said, you're apoplectic and are not at all this kebab later, so do not worry. thank you very much for your reaction to that commission report. we will ports and take a look at the

weather now. hello there, we have. still some cloud coming back and those will be falling away in this evening. it will be milderfor northern ireland, parts of the south—west of england and wales as well. we have some rain continuing and that will push its way towards wales, developed towards nonaligned and some of it was built towards the eastern areas, but it will not prevent a frost widely in scotland across northern and eastern parts of england as well. much milderfor northern ireland, wales and the south—west we had some outbreaks of rain. 0n south—west we had some outbreaks of rain. on that boundary, there is the threat of icy conditions with freezing rain, a risk in western and north—west england for the morning, that rain is moving slowly northwards and eastwards, but some signs of snow developing over the hills of scotland and northern england, it is going to be a cold day in scotland, eastern england is

much milder in the west. hello, this is bbc news with ben brown. the headlines... britain's top police officer warns those who break covid rules are now more likely to face fines, and says it's preposterous for anyone to claim they don't know the rules. where somebody is breaking, you know, breaking the law, breaking the regulations, and it is absolutely clear that they must have known or do know that they are, then we will move very swiftly to enforcement and fining people. 2020 saw the largest increase in uk deaths in a single year since the second world war. a warning that core staff could leave the nhs after the coronavirus crisis — because of workloads described as unsustainable. a report into irish mother and baby homes finds some 9,000 children died in the institutions investigated.

the taoiseach says it presents all of irish society with profound questions. we had a completely warped attitude to sexuality and intimacy and young mothers and their sons and daughters were forced to pay a terrible price for that dysfunction. free school meals: parents condemn what they call ‘woefully inadequate' food parcels for children learning at home. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here'sjohn watson. good afternoon. the premier league is left with a headache in terms of rescheduling and many of the managers are being left frustrated as well. the fulham boss scott parker hesays is one of those. he says it's scandalous his side are being made to play their rearranged fixture with tottenham

tomorrow having only been given two days notice. fulham and spurs were due to meet in december, but the match was postponed at short notice after covid hit the fulham squad. and with villa unable to fulfil their fixture with spurs tomorrow, fulham were asked to play instead. the premier league claim discussions with fulham began on saturday. the spurs managerjose mourinho says postponements due to covid are giving the premier league little choice but to play the fixtures when they can. the biggest impact is to have much is postponed. that is the biggest impact. the changing of, let's say the order of the matches, the impact is minimal, i would say, and in the end you would have to played 19 matches at home and 19 matches away. you have to play two matches against every tea m. you have to play two matches against every team. if it is to help the premier league to go and to help properly, i think it is a solution that we all have to accept. it is

certainly not that what is the only sport that has been effective. —— affected. the new formula one season will start later than planned after the first race — the australian grand prix — was postponed beacuse of covid restrictions in the country. it means bahrain will host the opening race on march the 26th and despite the disruption to the calendar, organisers are still planning on staging more races than in any other season, as our formula one reporter jennie gow explains. 23 race season is what they came out with provisionally and even with this revised calendar, they are sticking to it. this season will start a week later, so no australia opener. a little break before we head to italy which is a race that we were not expecting — that has taken a spot. then china looks as if it will not happen at the moment because of covid and are expecting portimao to be announced at some point and australia shuffled back eight months.

now a november race, 21st november. will formula 1 get those races away? that is the big question. they managed 17 last year to great plaudits. fingers crossed they are expecting to welcome fans back and the paddock club. it will be fascinating to see what the reality is this season. so while the pandemic has caused a delay to the start of the formula one season, organisers of golf‘s masters plan to welcome back a limited number of spectators at augusta in april. not since these scenes in 2019, when tiger woods memorably won the greenjacket have galleries been present. the event was postponed until november last year and played without fans for the first time england's chris woakes says it's unlikely he'll be able to play a part in his side's first test in sri lanka on thursday. woakes is out of self—isolation after being deemed a possible close contact to moeen ali who tested positive for covid—19. moeen is still displaying mild

symptoms and will not feature. iam i am certainly up against it in terms of time. i nearly had my first bowl yesterday —— my only had my first bowl yesterday, will oversee the guys have been bowling for pretty much the entire week. that is obscene frustrating from my side of things, just put me back a little bit, the chances of me playing a quite slim, you haven't played and getting into this. it is potentially an injury risk. that position has been made and —— might think that position has not been madejust yet. next, the latest from the first round of the masters snooker, where former champion neil robertson is currently in first round action. we can bring you some live pictures 110w we can bring you some live pictures now from the arena in milton keynes. he is currently leading 4—3. six frames needed for a place in the quarterfinals. you can watch him and

the rest of his match on bbc two at the rest of his match on bbc two at the moment and by the bbc sport website. just thinking that red which he does. beautiful. that's all the sport for now. amongst those who have had the vaccine, it is a david attenborough. at the age of 94. i thought you would like to know that, he has had the vaccine, not sure which vaccine, whether it is the pfizer or the 0x 0xford one, but we will find out. let's get more now on the increasing pressure for stricter enforcement of the lockdown regulations. the former advisory. do you think the current restrictions need to be tightened further? well, what we

know is that we are facing a variant of the virus that is 50 to 70% more infectious, we also note that the hospitals are absolutely on the verge of being overwhelmed. they we re verge of being overwhelmed. they were not in march and we also know that it were not in march and we also know thatitis were not in march and we also know that it is a lot colder and viruses live much longer in the cold weather and people spend more time indoors, where transmission by aerosols is a much greater risk. so, for all of those reasons, the restrictions should be at least as tight, if not more they were in march. yet, they are more lax. but obviously, the restrictions need to be accompanied by good financial and practical support for people. what you say, damn... do you think people are following the rules less conscientiously, perhaps, than they we re conscientiously, perhaps, than they were in the phone lockdown? 0n conscientiously, perhaps, than they were in the phone lockdown? on other people say that compliance has complied quite substantially in a

the data do not bear that out. the data show that around 90% of people are around 90% by the restrictions. —— abiding by the restrictions. the one where there is a big problem with the tiers is isolating for the ten days. if you have symptoms, that is. our own research shows that only about 30% of people actually doing this for the full ten days. that is obviously a very big problem because that means we have people with symptoms going around in the community and potentially infecting others. but the reasons given for it are are to do with very practical things, having came in response abilities outside the house, having to go out to get provisions and having having to go out to work. 0ther having having to go out to work. other countries actually pay people to stay at home, 80% 80 or 90% of their salaries provide daily visits, offers of help like helping with the rubbish of getting provisions, and

many countries also offer free hotel accommodation if you cannot isolate at home. so, this is a real area that we need to look at because i think the added value of getting good support at isolation, to get the transmission down is huge. it is not some in the government has engaged with yet. with me is peter mccall, police and crime commissionner for cumbria. a lot of talk about enforcement in the last couple of days. especially the last couple of days. especially the last couple days, from we had printing press in a saying that they will be enforcing fines, perhaps more readily then they welled in the past. if you think police are facing quite a tough job at the moment? we example in derbyshire where the two women had gone out in separate cars ona women had gone out in separate cars on a five mile journey for a walk and those fines have now been rescinded. some police federation people are saying actually, the police have been hung out to dry and they are of the middle on this.” think they are absolutely right. the

reality is that police do get every which way in this. i think oh, we need to put the onus back on ourselves, or rather, not put it on us, but we need to get on. on each of us we have that responsibility to try and do the right thing. certainly, when we are spoken to by the police, if it is pointed out to us the police, if it is pointed out to us that we are not doing the right thing, that we are as a border, then the straight answer that is"0k, i'm going straight home. " just do not argue. the cuts are causing this. and it is a bit unfair. the rules could be clearer in terms of the localism thing, but even that is said —— like that is easier said than done. if you say, that will put a physical limit on this. that is very ha rd a physical limit on this. that is very hard to please everyone in terms of where you draw that line. so, it is a difficult situation but it can be made a lot easier if we

all look in the mirror and say to ourselves, " what can i do to help rather than how to push the boundaries? " since he raised the issue as to what is local, can i just ask what you think the prime minister going for a bike ride seven miles from downing street to? we don't know when he cycled those or whether he was driven to the olympic park but do thing i was unwise? as you say, we do not know those details, but he is a bit like the cops. he is in a notice when situation. —— make a no—win situation. —— make a no—win situation. it is unreasonable for me to comment because i do not know the situation. in principle, we should all take exercise. i think cressida dick had absolutely right when she said if you can do it from your front door, returning to your front door. that is the best way. it makes sense. there will be cases where people cannot exercise as closely as they can. but it is where the discretion of officers comes in.

that is where we do invest a lot of training and giving our office the discretion to give that you make that decision on the ground. i would say that 99.9% of the time, they do that incredibly well. can i ask you about that, susan, but example of the prime and a bike ride seven miles away? what would you say to him if he bumped into mrjohnson in westminster today? is incredibly important that people who have influence in society be seen to be doing the right thing. and practising what they preach. because if it is perceived that those who actually are in a relatively affluent and privileged positions are slightly playing fast and loose with the rules, as happened earlier in the year with dominic cummings, with a browser disastrous effects for trust and adherence, people are

obviously themselves going to be less likely to. the other problem is that it may encourage perceived unfairness and we know that evidence, when people perceive things to be unfair, again, it is undermining the trust and the adherence. this is actually quite an important issue. an important issue that mac do you think then that mr johnson was not practising what he preaches on that occasion?” johnson was not practising what he preaches on that occasion? i do not know. i do not know anything about the actual business. thank you for talking to is anyway! may thank you for both of us for talking to us. thank you for your time. the home secretary pretty patel is going to be leading the coronavirus news briefing, but is that 5pm this afternoon. that is when it is scheduled to happen. sometimes it is two or three minutes late, but in ten minutes or so, you can watch that life here in its entirety on the bbc news channel. baroness joa n ba kewell

is threatening the government with legal action over delays to the second dose of the pfizer/biontech vaccine. the labour peer said there were grounds to show the decision taken by ministers to delay the second dose by up to 12 weeks was unlawful. we can speak to the woman, but we cannot speak to her just at the moment, but we will speak to her shortly. we will return to that in just a minute or two. in fact, she has come in. we can talk to her. lovely to talk to you. baroness joan ba kewell. shejoins me now. just talk to us about what this is about why you are angry about this. i'm not so much angry as it concerns because i have been very —— fortu nate to because i have been very —— fortunate to have the vaccine and over a million people had the first vaccine. if i can read the leaflet, i was one of those people, the leaflet says, you will receive two injections given at 21 days apart. that is a medical document. now,

what has happened since is that there has been a decision for not a medical session, to change that to 12 weeks. a lot of older people who had the first injection are com pletely had the first injection are completely confused and they do not know what the medical validity of giving you this second injection within 12 weeks is really about. so, thatis within 12 weeks is really about. so, that is very confusing. apologies, some arejust phoning me. have that is very confusing. apologies, some are just phoning me. have you lost me? so, i am concerned that the government should get this... sorry don't, we have lost you. but we will come back to you if we can. joan ba kewell come back to you if we can. joan bakewell there. enter come back to you if we can. joan ba kewell there. enter mud come back to you if we can. joan bakewell there. enter mud as you can tell, getting a focal in the middle of that interview. we will go back to her later. president trump has described moves to impeach him for a second time as ‘absolutely ridiculous'. the president made his comments in the last hour as he left the white house to travel to texas. lawmakers in the house of representatives are expected to vote on impeachment tomorrow.

the fbi has warned of possible armed protests across the country ahead ofjoe biden's inauguration next week. on the impeachment, it is really a continuation of the greatest witchhunt in the history of politics. it is ridiculous, it is absolutely ridiculous. this impeachment is causing tremendous angen impeachment is causing tremendous anger. and you are doing it and it is really a terrible thing that they are doing. saw nancy pelosi and trump junior to continue on are doing. saw nancy pelosi and trumpjunior to continue on this, i think it is causing to mend a danger to our country under tremendous angen to our country under tremendous anger. president trump that on his way to texas. as i said, priti patel is just way to texas. as i said, priti patel isjust a way to texas. as i said, priti patel is just a couple of minutes away from giving the latest coronavirus briefing. let us go to our political correspondence day munich massacres. let's speak to our political correspondent damian grammaticas. they messages about how people need to obey and abide by the lockdown

lot rules and restrictions. yes, absolutely right. that has been the theme of the day. it complements, if you like, the theme of yesterday which was all about the vaccine and the roll—out of that and the programme to spread that around as many people as possible in this high—risk group. the comments to the vaccine roll—out is the need to keep the current spread of covid—19 in check. there, today's message is all about, as you say, enforcement, the need for people to follow the rules that are currently in place and the fa ct that are currently in place and the fact that the government says that it is keeping the situation under review. it says it does not want to bring in tougher rules at this stage, but that will depend on the spread of the virus on the growth in the number of cases and on compliance with the rules. that i'm sure, is what the home secretary will be trying to press today.” think, possibly, one of the questions for her will be about

compliance for the rules for the prime minister. what were the words said there over the famous bike ride to the olympic park? yes, impressive, over today and yesterday. the fact that he went seven miles from home on a bike, seen a seven miles from home on a bike, seen a cycling around the olympic park when the guidance says that if you live in a city in england, you should exercise in your local area. in your own area of the city. now, they have not addressed exactly the question of how he got there, was he driven, did he cycle there, but they have said that he was not breaking the law, he was following it, he was following the regulations, so we have not engaged with that, said, they said in some cases, there are some difficult tricky choices for some difficult tricky choices for some people to make and is a question ofjudgment. some people to make and is a question of judgment. the some people to make and is a question ofjudgment. the problem with that, of course, is that it clouds the issue about enforcing the rules, following leaves open the

question of the charge that they might be, say one thing, do some thing else. that complicates it when you are at a time when the government was to say, quite like eve ryo ne government was to say, quite like everyone is in this together and should be following the rules and minimising them and any chance of the spread of the virus. " thank you very much indeed, we'll be back with you after that briefing. we will also talk in a minute to our home affairs correspondence. ijust want to go back to the baronessjonah ba kewell to go back to the baronessjonah bakewell who is to go back to the baronessjonah ba kewell who is pressing to go back to the baronessjonah bakewell who is pressing the government with legal action over the delays for the second dose of the delays for the second dose of the vaccine for the biotech pfizer vaccine. saying that there were grounds for suing the decision to delay that second dose is unlawful. we are back with the baroness. you arejust we are back with the baroness. you are just telling us, we are back with the baroness. you arejust telling us, you we are back with the baroness. you are just telling us, you are we are back with the baroness. you arejust telling us, you are not necessarily angry, but you are concerned about this. yes, it seems that my i'm not the only one, but the response to my announcement has

been enormous, lots of people saying, please get this is out for us. saying, please get this is out for us. we have had this firstjab, or my mother has had all the parent or uncle has had the firstjab and they do not know, they are completely confused about the medical validity of this. that is still in some doubt. even mr thatcher in america has said that there is no medical but education of this. the vaccine was produced with verification between one injection and the second fruit later. —— ducked about catchy. that has been verified, but pfizer have not in the test that proves that waiting for 12 weeks will be making that valid. and the government's decked out as of the sea driven by the greatest motive which is to let as many people as possible have a vaccine, but if it turns out that that first taxation is not enough, and it is a

validated, it would be a waste of effort. let mejust validated, it would be a waste of effort. let me just quote you what you know, i'm sure. doctorjonathan van tan said that the analysis shows that the vaccine at 89% effective against covid—19 in the period of 15 to 21 days after the first dose. it is unlikely such protection would decline severely in the 12 weeks after the jab. he said simply put, this is the key points, every time we vaccinate someone a this is the key points, every time we vaccinate someone a second time, we vaccinate someone a second time, we are not vaccinating someone else for the first time. i think gave the example of if you have two grandparents, would you want to vaccinate both or just grandparents, would you want to vaccinate both orjust one of them? point is, have the people who invented this vaccine authenticated at? the answer is they have not put it to the test. if you are going to tell us that we are only going to be 80% protected, and that we should have told us. the document said it should have been to vaccine three

weeks apart. i think it should be very important people should be not left in limbo. that is why making this appeal on behalf of all the people who are confused and you are getting in touch with me. it is fine for him to say, of course, it is better if more people are safe, how cani better if more people are safe, how can i disagree with that? is certainly for me to think about, but i want to be sure that it is medically verified. that is what i wa nt to medically verified. that is what i want to know. i want to be pfizer people to come out and say, yes, that's fine and that we could all be happy. he is the deputy chief medical officer, doctorjonathan van time, but we will have to leave it there. thank you very much for being with us. as i have been saying, we're going to heaven home secretary does a minute or two in downing street. let us get a preview of what she is going to say from our home affairs correspondence. i am just joking! iam affairs correspondence. i am just joking! i am sure you do not know what she is going to say, but give us what she is going to say, but give usa what she is going to say, but give us a guess, because what she is going to say, but give us a guess, because presumably it is going to be about enforcement and the way the police have to enforce these coronavirus restrictions. that has been a hot topic of debate in the last few days. they coin a

phrase if pretty patel is going to be joining phrase if pretty patel is going to bejoining the phrase if pretty patel is going to be joining the conference, but it has been very wet at the beginning of the pandemic, it will be about the enforcement. i think that is what we can expect, she has also —— she is also going to be completed by doctor martin hewitt she will be talking about what forces in england and he also has some responsibility for wales, but what forces in england will be doing to make sure there is better enforcement and there is better enforcement and there are too concerned, the first is that people may —— maybe not following the rules and the police could be doing more to make sure people do abide by the rules, clearly, 100,000 police officers, find it difficult to police and tens of billions of people. but the other concern is that if there is so some vagueness or lack of clarity in this. individual police officers on the front line have been confronted bya the front line have been confronted by a change in health regulations, every couple of months, sometimes, every couple of months, sometimes, every month, and those divisional officers, charging someone on the street about the behaviour, it's ha rd street about the behaviour, it's hard for them to know exactly what

the regulations are as opposed to the regulations are as opposed to the guidance which the government has put out. let me get this confusions about whether you are allowed to exercise a bit further from your home or not. the law says you can, but the government guidance asked not to. i think it is going to bea asked not to. i think it is going to be a lot of discussion of that. the possibilities of whether or not front line police officers ought to be further up the priority list for vaccinations may come up, that is a growing concern amongst senior police officers, cressida dick, the commissioner, raising that in her newspaper article saying that she needs believes it needs to be made more clear that front line police officers may be would be fed up that list. they have after all be out there on the streets since march. they have been dealing with the virus when everyone else was sheltering in their homes. some people —— make fewer people are sheltering at the police i wonder when they might get that vaccine. we have an cressida dick this morning, she seems to be saying that the police will find a bit more quickly

than they have in the past. maybe perhaps give them a morning, but they could move to she was very clear about that this morning they have used this for hes where the last he was enforcement. they are making sure they are explaining to be what the rules are rather than slapping a fine on them, now there's a view nine months in that people ought to know what the rules are even though they are changing frequently. people know we are ina changing frequently. people know we are in a stiff lockdown at the moment, they ought to be thinking, doi moment, they ought to be thinking, do i need to leave home, is that something they ought to be doing? and p police officers and... people clearly gathering without any social distancing, if people are making a slip—up than they mega exploration first and only get enforced if they refuse to comply with the police

officers' request, but! refuse to comply with the police officers' request, but i think certainly the egregious breaches, people will see the fines starting at £200 happening more quickly until these numbers come under control. all the numbers are going in the wrong direction, the only number going on the right direction is the number of people being vaccinated. and there's going to be a strong message from the government that they are going to start to use the stick as well as the carrot. though there is the issue, as previously discussed, about whether there is enough carrot to persuade people to stay home at the moment. still waiting for the home secretary so i might interrupt you. but let me ask you, our different police forces enforcing the rules in different ways ? enforcing the rules in different ways? are some being more overzealous ? ways? are some being more overzealous? derbyshire has been the focus of attention for finding those two women who walked, drove five miles separately with cups of coffee which were described by the police asa which were described by the police as a picnic, they were fined, the fines were rescinded, but are some forces being more zealous than others? police officers has always

been allowed to use discretion in this country, and there's no doubt that different forces had informal policies which were massively different across england, and right from the beginning there is some police forces were enforcing quite hard, setting up checkpoints, challenging people... he was the home secretary, betty patel, at the downing street briefing. good afternoon. i am joined today by nhs england's regional medical director for nhs england's regional medical directorfor london. and by martin hewitt, chair of the national police chiefs council. as you know, we remained locked in a fight against coronavirus. the pandemic has occupied our lives for many months and we are now grappling with the emergence of a new and more infectious strain. we are therefore asking you to stay at home, to protect the nhs, and save lives, while we work hard to roll out the back seat as quickly as possible. as

of today, 2,000,430 people have been vaccinated across the uk. today 45,533 people have tested positive for coronavirus. as of the 10th of january, 35,075 for coronavirus. as of the 10th of january, 35, 075 people for coronavirus. as of the 10th of january, 35,075 people are currently in hospital with coronavirus. that is an increase of 22% from this time last week. and sadly, of those who have tested positive for coronavirus, across all settings, 83,203 people have died. 1243 fatalities were reported yesterday. my fatalities were reported yesterday. my thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones to coronavirus. these numbers are horrifying. and they underlined why it is absolutely critical that everyone plays their pa rt

critical that everyone plays their part and follows the rules. we know that most of the public are doing exactly that, they are doing the right thing and they are staying at home. and i want to say thank you to the millions of people who are putting our country's collective health first. to everyone who has put off seeing their parents, grandparents, their loved ones, their vulnerable loved ones, thank you. you have helped to stop the spread of the virus and save lives. our ability to get through the coming weeks and months depends on each and everyone of us contributing to what is truly a national effort. but a minority of people are putting the health of the nation at risk by not following the rules. that is why the secretary of state for local government has today talked to councils about the role that they have to play in enforcing the rules and in saving lives. and our police

officers are now moving more quickly toissue officers are now moving more quickly to issue in the fines where people are to issue in the fines where people a re clearly to issue in the fines where people are clearly breaching coronavirus regulations. nearly 45,000 fixed penalty notices have been issued across the uk. so my message today to anyone refusing to do the right thing is simple, if you do not play your part our selfless police officers who are out there risking their own lives everyday to keep us safe, they will enforce the regulations. and i will back them to do so, to protect our nhs and save lives. our police officers are not immune from the virus. far too often they are having to risk their own lives and their own health by coming into close contact with people, including those who deny the very existence of coronavirus. to keep us all safe. the police and fire service staff throughout this

pandemic have been on the front line, helping the local communities. they are the very best of us all, andi they are the very best of us all, and i know the public share my gratitude for their incredible contribution. they are also there to help the most in need, including anyone experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse. you can leave your home to escape time and seek refuge, and anyone who is in immediate danger should always call 999. we are now at a critical stage in our battle against the virus, to protect those that you care about and the capacity of our hospitals, to protect us all, please stay at home to protect the nhs and save lives. on hand over to martin hewitt, the chair of the national police chief counsel. thank you. for the last ten months police officers, staff and volu nteers across months police officers, staff and volunteers across the uk have been out police in their communities.

they have been doing their normal role of keeping people safe in fighting crime, but they've also been playing their part in defeating coronavirus by ensuring compliance with the various restrictions that we've all been living with. from the outset, we did this in the way we have always police, working with the public and using common sense and discretion. in most of our daily encounters, it's been enough to engage with people, to explain the rules and to encourage compliance. the majority of the public have worked with us and i thank them for that. but a stubborn number of people have refused to abide by the regulations, and we have had to use enforcement powers. up to this point, as the home secretary has said, across the whole of the uk, we haveissued said, across the whole of the uk, we have issued almost 45,000 fixed penalty notices, and for that i make no apology. it's very clear that we are now at the most dangerous stage of the pandemic. there is a real and

present risk that our health service could be overwhelmed and people, our friends and family, could die needlessly from this virus. so we must all play our part in stopping that from happening. ten months on, the rules are clear and i urge eve ryo ne the rules are clear and i urge everyone to abide by them. with a virus spreading so rapidly, through contact with others, we should all be asking ourselves whether our reason to leave home is truly essential. those personal decisions are critical. since october, we've been guiding our officers to move more quickly to issuing a fine where people are clearly breaching regulations and they are not listening to us. and in most cases the person will comply after one request. but there are still too many who are choosing not to. and in doing so, they are endangering us all. so it's important for one at this critical time, we will have more officers out on dedicated

patrols to take action against the small few who are letting us all down. and let's remember each of those officers is putting themselves at risk in order to keep people safe and to slow the spread of this disease. and that's why it's so disappointing to see some of the irresponsible behaviour that we are having to deal with. and let me give just a few recent examples. a boat party in hertfordshire with more than 40 people who paid £30 each for a ticket. a minibus full of people from different households travelling from different households travelling from cheltenham to wales to go for a walk. in surrey we issued a £10,000 fine to the organiser of a party who was trying to claim it was a business event. we are also preventing dangerous breaches. in bristol at the weekend we arrested a 19—year—old man after finding an advert for an illegal rave on social media. even in somerset police

prevented that event from starting, issued fines to 38 of the people who showed up, and turned away many more. we will not waste time trying to reason with people like this who have no regard for the safety of others. organising parties or large gatherings is dangerous, selfish, and totally irresponsible in light of the current threat that we face. organisers will be fined, but so too will the people who choose to attend. not wearing a face covering ona attend. not wearing a face covering on a bus or train is dangerous. it risks the lives of other travellers, including those critical workers who must continue to use public transport to do important work. so on those systems, unless you are exempt, you can expect a fine. the police service across the uk is doing all it can to support the many people who are making daily sacrifices to protect the health of theirfamily, friends sacrifices to protect the health of their family, friends and communities. and as more people act

sensibly and stay at home, we will still be visible on your streets and continuing the work we've been doing throughout the pandemic to keep you safe. how successful staged enforcement approach remains but we will not linger on encouragement for those who are choosing to break the rules. the rules are clear and we need to abide by them if we are going to protect the nhs and save people's lives. thank you. thank you and good afternoon. i am the nhs england medical director in london. before the questions begin i would like to start by thanking all of my colleagues in the nhs, in local government, in the london fire brigade and in the metropolitan police, for the support and their ha rd police, for the support and their hard work during the course of the pandemic. this pandemic is the biggest health emergency this country has faced since the second world war. the last few weeks,

through the christmas period, and right through the start of the new year, we have been facing three substantial challenges. at the start of november, nhs hospitals in london we re of november, nhs hospitals in london were caring for 1000 patients with covid—19. on christmas day, that had increased fourfold to 4000, and to date that number has nearly doubled tojust under 8000, date that number has nearly doubled to just under 8000, and date that number has nearly doubled tojust under 8000, and more than 1000 of those are on critical care, the sickest patients. and i'm grateful to colleagues in other parts of the country who have been caring for some of our patients who have come from london. at the same time as london continues to care for patients with covid—19, we care for nearly three times that number of patients without covid, with other conditions such as cancer, heart attacks and strokes. and our plans to search the bed capacity in london

means it is important we continue to ca re means it is important we continue to care for the most ill covid—19 patients but also other urgent and emergency conditions. but as the pressure from covid—19 has increased, this has put pressure on the numberof increased, this has put pressure on the number of beds that we have the other conditions. that is where yesterday we opened the nightingale hospital and admitted our first patients. this time it is taking patients. this time it is taking patients who do not have covid and this means our hospitals have more beds to care for covid patients themselves and for our very sickest patients. but we cannot do this indefinitely. there comes a point where if the infection gets further out of control, more and more patients from london will need to be transferred elsewhere, and all across the country my colleagues are also seeing a rise in infections and in pressure on the nhs. so my ask todayis in pressure on the nhs. so my ask today is to obey the government rules for another reason as well as the ones described by the home

secretary. there is hope, whilst in one hall of the l or excel centre in london we have opened the nightingale, in another hall we have opened london's first vaccination centre. we are working with 102 local vaccine services and 39 hospital herbs and in london the nhs has now vaccinated hundreds of thousands of people, the majority of them over80. i thousands of people, the majority of them over 80. i lead up to myself and i've been on an intensive care unit in east london today, and i can tell you covid—19 is a horrible, horrible disease that leaves so many including young people breathless and gasping for life. it place is increasing pressure on the nhs so please follow the rules and act like you have covid. that will save lives and it will help my fellow doctors, nurses, paramedics, physiotherapists

and many other health professions to do what we are here to do and to serve do what we are here to do and to serve you do what we are here to do and to serve you best, which is to care sickest. thank you. thank you. i think ourfirst question sickest. thank you. thank you. i think our first question this afternoon is from ian from preston. if the new covid variant is more infectious, why are the new rules more relaxed? thank you. let me start off with that. and then i'll bring martin in the doctor n. i think it's really important to reflect, frankly, on the state we are in right now, and you've heard my remarks and the doctor's comments about the impact of covid, notjust about the impact of covid, notjust a new variant but all the measures we have put in place and why we need to have these rules. our message is crystal clear — this is to stay at home, and if i may come as a doctor made a very sobering point that we should all act like we have covid in

order to protect others, and this is not about rules being more relaxed, we have clear rules. and i would urge everybody across the country to make sure we follow those rules. so that we can protect the nhs and save lives. i think that is absolutely imperative. do you want to add anything? no thank you. the only thing i would say i think is that it's fairly simple, the basic things we need to do to prevent the spread of the virus, which is prevent contact with people, so that is staying at home and only leaving your home if it's one of the exemptions and it's absolutely essential. if everybody does that thenl essential. if everybody does that then i think we are in the strongest position to restrict the transmission of the disease. we'll move on to diane. good afternoon. when will the vaccination programme prioritise key workers who are in contact with the public every day but not health and social care, such as police officers, teachers and

supermarket stuff? thank you for your question. it's really important about prioritisation. and the groups that are being prioritised right now are focused on, we've already mentioned the excel centre which is doing great work in terms of vaccination, but effectively we do have the jcvi vaccination, but effectively we do have thejcvi which has already identified the top priority groups who account for 80% of those who are affected by covid, and sadly could also be at risk of dying. so there are the four priority groups right now, and we intend to vaccine eve ryo ne now, and we intend to vaccine everyone within those cohorts between now and the 15th of february. i should also add that the g avicii, and we are working with them across government to give eve ryo ne them across government to give everyone is them across government to give everyone is assurance, we are looking at those on the front line, people such as police officers, teachers, and others, who naturally

are at occupational risk of coming in contact with the virus. we've all heard me and martin speak today about police officers, fire officers, many others on the front line, and we are absently working to make sure we get the vaccine to them, but that means working with them, but that means working with the jcvi as them, but that means working with thejcvi as well. do you want comment? so i completely agree with what you say. i think what i've said from my comments earlier shows how serious this illness is. r number one priority has to be to prevent death and prevent serious illness. i know our colleagues have thought carefully about this and use the evidence to show that if we vaccinate the priority groups of people that the home secretary has talked about we will be able to reduce the chance that people die and that is what will get is out of this situation that we are in at the moment. and i think that is absolutely the right strategy to take. martin. and i think it's a

really good question, and i would obviously support for all of those key workers who are having contact every day. i think it's really important to make the point about what police officers have been doing. i started what police officers have been doing. istarted by what police officers have been doing. i started by saying that the last ten months police officers, staff, have been out there and the nature of policing is that those officers are having daily to deal with people where they have no idea whether they are or are not infected. we have worked well in terms of providing protective equipment and having good systems in place, but as one of my chief comes to book colleagues described, you can't police at two metres distance. we have to do that dub to protect people to deal with the crime we are dealing with. so it's important that as soon as dealing with. so it's important that as soon as the first phase of the vaccine is over and has been completed, i think a range of key workers, i know, and i know that's happening in government and that is conversations that i and others have personally had with government, but

it isa personally had with government, but it is a really important point that diane makes. we'll move on to questions from the media, and will go first to mark easton from the bbc. a question for the home secretary. we were warned we may be health facing health service catastrophe, so why are the rules of this lockdown not as tough as they we re this lockdown not as tough as they were last spring? i think first of all if i may, you are right, we are speaking consistently and constantly daily about staying at home, and we are very clear in the reasons as to why, you've all heard a say there is another‘s across government, cmo, and many others about the impact on the nhs. the rules are actually very simple and clear. we are meant to stay at home and only leave home for a very, very limited number of reasons. and that is obviously to go to work, only if you cannot work

from home, in terms of schools, school is open for the children and pupils of key workers, and then of course outdoor recreation, but in a very restricted and limited way, staying local. i said that several times over the last week. and obviously people needing medical help and support, and you've heard me speak frequently about those that could suffer from violence, domestic abuse, etc. these are very limited reasons for leaving. and i can only actually echo the words of the doctor, we are in a health pandemic right now. everyone has to be conscientious in their actions and act as if we have covid, therefore restriction all our social contacts. to the rules are clear. and in terms of police enforcement, we spoke at length, not just today of police enforcement, we spoke at length, notjust today but previously, as to the type of egregious breaches we will clamp down on. so the rules are clear. martin do you want to add anything?

no, ithink martin do you want to add anything? no, i think it isjust to make the point that the stay at home, the reducing contact, i think that is very clear. and certainly, from our perspective we will carry on engaging with people, that is how we have done this from the beginning. we will talk to people and we will explain, but i think the rules are clear enough for people to understand, we are ten months into this process, and you are right that the regulations have shifted over that period of time, as the pandemic has. but i think it's very clear what people need to do, and people need to accept the personal responsibility to act properly to prevent the spread of the virus. thank you. let's move on to dan hewitt from itv. you say the rules are clear, the key question surely is other rules tough enough to contain the current spread. add a question to martin hewitt if i may, there is no designated limit on how far we

there is no designated limit on how farwe can there is no designated limit on how far we can travel for daily exercise, david munroe told times radio early at the fact we are having to debate whether the prime minister broke the rules or not when he took a seven mile bike ride is proof read more clarity about them. use it more clarity is needed the rules? i think there's been a lot of focus today about the definition of local, and i think actually if you tried to make a definition that every possible circumstance that would be really challenging. and i don't think we are in a position where we want to set a particular distance because how would, if a police officer stopped somebody, how would you prove a person is within or outside that distance? i think it is simpler than that — there is an exemption, let's take exercise, there is an exemption that allows you to exercise and i think that's absolutely right that people's physical and mental health, and i think you have to ask yourself two questions — first question is, is me going out doing this essential, and if the answer to that is yes, then

you have to ask yourself, how can i conduct this exercise in the safest way possible? and by that, that means not putting yourself into a position where you are likely to come into contact with people. so i understand why the issue of local has become quite totemic, but i think it's the wrong question to ask. we all understand the exemptions, ask yourself whether it is essential and then do it in the safest possible way you can. just to add, i absolutely agree with martin's comments. look, we are in a pandemic. the british public are a bsently pandemic. the british public are absently sensible, they are conscientious, they understand the stay at home message. when it comes to staying at home, that also means staying local, and that equally applies to exercise is important, it is important for health and well—being, and that equally applies to exercise. but the rest calls tough enough, you said the rules are clear, are they tough enough to contain the current variant? first

of all, they are clear. they are firm in terms of staying at home. and with that of course, dan, i think you've been showing some news bulletins recently of breaches that have been taking place and you've been out with the police, so you know the difference between those individuals who have been compliant and those breaking the rules. the rules are tough enough. you've already had 45,000 fixed penalty notices have been issued just in the recent times since we've been in this pandemic. so they are tough enough. we urge everybody to continue to follow the rules. the more we follow the rules, the sooner we can drive this awful atrocious disease down. and the reason why we have these rules are to absolutely try and contain the pandemic and to save try and contain the pandemic and to save lives. so by sticking with this, and that is the message to everyone, again and again, stick with the rules, think about your actions, stay at home, stay local, and minimise your social contact. and of course we will get on top of

this pandemic. and importantly, we will be able to protect the nhs so it can continue to look after people who are ill with coronavirus and also rolled out the vaccine in the way in which we are now seeing this incredible mass vaccination take place across the nhs. now sam coates from sky news. good afternoon. is there a risk that the government is concentrating too much on the easy targets, people meet in parks, parties and shops, when the evidence suggests a real problem is in those workplaces that remain open and on public transport? have you got the resources and, frankly, the will to e nforce resources and, frankly, the will to enforce social distancing in and around workplaces, or are you unwilling to take on bosses because of the economic impact? and martin hewitt, how proactively are the police making sure workplaces are covid—secure? 0r police making sure workplaces are covid—secure? or do you think that is the job of the health and safety officials and local areas so that

you can concentrate on more of the examples you highlight like parties and groups travelling in minibuses? let me start off. when it comes to the rules, the fact of the matter is our targets and objectives are to save our targets and objectives are to save lives. this is not about picking out individual groups or things of that nature. you've heard the government consistently say this. from the cmo to a public health colleagues this afternoon and many others as well, from the prime minister to myself nor my ministerial colleagues, our objectives are to save lives, to save objectives are to save lives, to save lives and protect the nhs. so when it comes to the enforcement of the rules, it is right that we go after those breaches and we have seen after those breaches and we have seen endless egregious breaches and i've seen my police officers as well, all our police officers across all forces do heroic work on that. but at the same time it is notjust for the police, this is also about other aspects of government, and you've heard me speak about the secretary of state for local

government today, working with local councils, the police don't work in isolation, they work with their cou nterpa rts isolation, they work with their counterparts and local governments, local authorities, they have been doing that consistently. we have clear guidance for businesses, the supermarkets, and i want to thank the supermarkets today that have announced they are stepping up their effo rts announced they are stepping up their efforts as well to ensure people are rightly wearing face coverings in supermarkets and they themselves have been enforcing those rules and regulations. so this is a collective effort. and we've been speaking clearly about the police inside of things today but there are so many other aspects of enforcement and compliance than other aspects of the state and government are heavily involved in. let's be really clear, the primary operating environment for policing and this is in the public space in dealing with those issues that i've described and you have described. the workplace, we obviously have worked really hard to manage all of her own workplaces for every force a cross manage all of her own workplaces for every force across the uk and making those covid—secure, every force across the uk and making those covid—secu re, that every force across the uk and making

those covid—secure, that is ultimately the responsibility of any business or owner in that space. but as the home secretary says, what is also happening across the country, every police force is working at a local level with all the other agencies that have responsibilities for making sure that the community is safe, that will include working with local authorities and all the other authorities that have a role within businesses. but primarily our spaceis within businesses. but primarily our space is the public space and that is the important place for police to focus its attention. gordon rayner from the telegraph. good afternoon. good afternoon, home secretary, thank you. a question for dr diwakar. when you look at experiences of your colleagues in europe where hospitals in france and italy were able to cope with almost 40,000 patients in november without telling people to stay at home, is there more the nhs could have done to prepare for this winter crisis?

and a question to you, home secretary. we know that various discussions are taking place within government about tightening the rules, as a couple of people have asked about already today, at what point will you take the decision on whether the rules do need to be tightened, is it only a matter of time before that happens and if that is the case, are you just delaying the inevitable by not taking a decision now? thank you, i will go to dr diwakar first. thank you. over the summer, we spent a lot of time learning from the first wave of the pandemic and picking up the things we did that have made a huge difference to the way in which we managed that first part and also learning about the things we might do differently. one of the things we did was that we invested in more critical care capacity in the nhs in london. but over the last few weeks, asi london. but over the last few weeks, as i said in my opening comments the pandemic has progressed extremely quickly. and it is thanks to the efforts of my colleagues in the nhs

who have really gone to extraordinary efforts over the last two or three weeks that we have opened hundreds of beds, and i mean hundreds of beds, notjust in the nightingale but in all our hospitals to be able to manage that. and it is because we are part of a national health service that we have also been able to work with my colleagues that i am very grateful to in other parts of the country to make sure that where the nhs in london has not had the capacity, that we have been able to move patients safely to other hospitals elsewhere in the nhs. and it is by working together in partnership that i think the nhs has been able to manage an extremely challenging and difficult situation. thank you. gordon, to your question about tightening the rules. as you would expect commitment government, there are endless discussions about there are endless discussions about the state of coronavirus, support and care must heat within the nhs unlocked lockdown measures right now —— support and capacity within the nhs. and the rules per se. we will

not speculate on anything, these issues are live within government and rules are always under review. so we are constantly right now looking at where we are at. sadly, you have seen the fact that too many people are still succumbing to this dreadful virus. and the fact of the matter is right now, we want people to very much followed the rules that are in place right now because by following those rules, that is effectively how we can collectively work this virus down, get this virus down, free up capacity in the nhs and do even more when it comes to rolling out the vaccine. as i have said, all rules are under review co nsta ntly said, all rules are under review constantly within government but currently, we are focusing very much on the compliance enforcement so we can support the nhs and save lives. thank you. i will now go on to the guardian. good afternoon. good afternoon, this is a question for

you, home secretary. how do you expect the public to understand what constitutes staying local when derbyshire police tried to fine two women for driving five miles for a walk and then two days later, the prime minister travel is seven miles to go ona prime minister travel is seven miles to go on a bike ride? well, as you will appreciate, and understand, when it comes to our outstanding police officers, they exercise their professionaljudgment police officers, they exercise their professional judgment constantly and they have been, as martin has said, since day one of this pandemic through the regulations and the guidance that comes out, through the couege guidance that comes out, through the college of policing. obviously, in the case of derbyshire, the local police force reviewed that entire case and they looked at it and the fine was rescinded. look, i think we have to come back to the current state of play and the situation we are in right now. the fact of the matter is we are in a pandemic, a health pandemic. you have already heard me say the number of people

that have passed away and died, 1243 fertility is reported today, when we have people dying and when we have people tragically succumbing to this virus, we have to exercise our judgment and be very conscientious as to how we act —— 1243 deaths. exercising, i say stay local, it is crucial. by all means, take your daily exercise, but it is up to all of us to exercise thatjudgment as to how we do it, not socialising. making sure we are action think the right way, staying away from other people which is clearly what the prime minister did when he was taking his daily exercise and quite frankly, i think we all have to axe —— asks ourselves what we can do to keep everybody safe and to reduce our contact with each other. martin. all i would add on the derbyshire incident particularly, as you will know, that was reviewed by the force and the decision was taken to

rescind those fixed penalty notices. and it is an important point because it became a big story and over the last ten months, there have been a handful of stories that have become quite iconic. the important point to make is from the service point of view, this is unprecedented territory. we are dealing with regulations that are health regulations that are health regulations are highly unusual, and the police force has stepped up really well to invite that. there have been issues where we have made a decision that it turns out the offers are decision was not the right decision, we have always reviewed those dealt with those issues and dealt with the individuals involved. i think it would be impossible to imagine we could be dealing with such an extraordinary experience for everybody over the last ten months and all the hundreds of thousands of interactions police officers are having with members of the public across the uk. so sometimes, m ista kes across the uk. so sometimes, mistakes will be made, but we always have looked those and looked at those clearly dealt with the individuals, the members of the public are concerned, and we have

said when we have got something wrong. and i think that has been a really important part of how we have dealt with this really difficult ten months and undoubtedly for some time to come. thank you. we will move to politics come back home. good afternoon. good afternoon, home secretary. i wanted to ask about vaccination centres that have opened this week, there has been concerned they may not be properly ventilated and the sage subcommittee has warned enhanced litigation issues are needed to do with the new covid variant. the government says they are variant. the government says they a re cove rt variant. the government says they are cove rt secure , variant. the government says they are covert secure, but what does that mean, can you give examples of what measures have been taken and what measures have been taken and what measures have been taken and what measures can you give the over—80s they are safe to go to. the governance takes the role of volunteers is to sit with people in reception and help elderly people out of cars, is that covid—secure? vaccination centre in cardiff has had to pause treatment because of an

outbreak of coronavirus, so will staff at the centres be prioritised for vaccination as well? thank you for vaccination as well? thank you for your question, yesterday, the government published its vaccine delivery plan and you have all heard about the big vaccine centres in particular and the number of people that we are concentrating on in terms of getting the vaccine to them. these vaccination sites, you will have seen the pictures and many members of the public have seen how cu bicles members of the public have seen how cubicles are spaced out and we are working with public health england and following all the guidance in terms of the safety and protective measures required for the staff in those centres, but also for the individual is coming again, for the immunisation. so if i canjust go to dr diwakar immunisation. so if i canjust go to dr diwa kar because immunisation. so if i canjust go to dr diwakar because we have been speaking about the excel centre which is a good example of how this is coming together. thank you, i visited the excel last week before it opened and being at a vaccine ce ntre it opened and being at a vaccine centre just this morning. and i

think we have absolutely rigid standards of infection prevention and control in all of these vaccine centres. i think nhs staff, for them, they see their colleagues who are working on critical care and in general acute wards and they know the pressure they are working under they don't want to inadvertently pass the infection on to other people. when you go there, as the home secretary says, you will see very strict rules about the size of cubicles, the distances that have to be maintained, there is hand gel everywhere, people are wearing masks and paying a great deal of attention to how the centres are set up. we have spent months preparing to set the centres up and we are guided by really strict rules about the way in which they should be configured to prevent the kind of things you are talking about. thank you, dr diwakar. talking about. thank you, dr diwa kar. alan talking about. thank you, dr diwakar. alan o'connor thank you very much. thank you. that is the end of that downing

street briefing, the home secretary priti patel just saying street briefing, the home secretary priti pateljust saying that street briefing, the home secretary priti patel just saying that 2.4 million people have now been vaccinated in the uk. that is the latest figure on vaccinations. and in terms of the number of new cases, we heard 45,543 new cases of coronavirus, that is down slightly from 40 6,000,169 coronavirus, that is down slightly from 40 6,000, 169 yesterday, the deaths sadly is up from 529 yesterday up to 1243 deaths within 28 days of a positive covid test. we heard from the prime minister he was asked quite a few times actually about whether the rules and the current lockdown are tough enough, she said the rules are tough enough, but also said they are constantly under review. she said, as you would expect. let's get some reaction to what was said at that briefing from

the shadow home secretary nick thomas simons whojoins the shadow home secretary nick thomas simons who joins us, thank you for being with us. what did you make of what the home secretary was saying when asked about whether the current rules are tough enough? she said they are, but i know your leader sir keir starmer doesn't think they are. look, keir starmer has set out we should look at nurseries closing and you have to keep the rules under review at all times. but the important thing really to emphasise today is complying with the rules that have been put forward. we heard from martin hewitt, the chair of the national police chiefs' council, about the approach the police have taken during the lockdown, the engage, explain, encourage before moving to enforcement. but it is also the case where there are people who have engaged in flagrant or

repeated breaches of the rules, there should be that enforcement. he set that out and i back the police in doing that to ensure that we are doing all we possibly can to protect our national health service and save lives. one of the questions was about the prime minister's bicycle ride to the olympic park in london. the home secretary said he wasn't socialising, that was within the rules, is that your view? look, i don't think that bike ride was helpful. there is an issue around exercise. where i think the uk government could be so much clearer in terms of the rules for england. here in wales for example, the exercise has to start and finish at home. and there is a very clear guideline to stay as close to home as possible. it isn't as strict as that in england. i think firstly, the government needs to look at that and be clear, that is betterfor the

public and better for the and be clear, that is betterfor the public and betterfor the police and be clear, that is betterfor the public and better for the police we are asking to enforce the lockdown. in addition, i think the prime minister has to look at himself and to ask whether doing that has assisted with the interpretation of the rule and exercise are not, frankly. and would you like to see specific limits, for example, in scotland, it is five miles you can't go beyond the border of your local authority area, would you like to see something more specific like that? well, i listen very carefully to what martin hewitt said in that press co nfe re nce to what martin hewitt said in that press conference and from an operational perspective, he cast doubt upon that and i understand why. but again to return to the situation we already have in wales of starting and finishing at home, very clear guidance of staying as close to home as possible, those would be significant improvements on the situation that we see in england andindeed the situation that we see in england and indeed would help everybody moving forward at this extraordinarily difficult moments. there was one interesting question which was the police said they are

focusing on egregious breaches of the rules, for example parties and so on. the rules, for example parties and so on. but actually, is the real danger of the virus spreading not public transport, large numbers of people still on public transport, and some workplaces where people are quite close together? well workplace safety is absolutely critical and, indeed, the ability of course of people to work from home where it is possible. and the government really does need to focus on that because we have to recognise as well that whilst we have that stay at home message, there are people, front line workers who have done extraordinary work throughout the last nine or ten months and, indeed, people in certain other sectors, who are going out to work every day. and we have to recognise the sacrifice they are making and do all we can to make them safe. that is absolutely critical. shadow home secretary nick

thomas—symonds, thank you very much indeed for giving us your very insta nt indeed for giving us your very instant reaction to that coronavirus briefing in downing street. and as we have been hearing, the home secretary has been leading that briefing on the enforcement of the lockdown rules in england. let's summarise what priti patel said. that if you do not play your part, our self as police officers risking their own lives will enforce the regulations, she said. —— selfless police officers. i will be back them to do so. while the majority of the public are obeying the rules, some are not and the police are now moving more quickly to issue fines. we also heard from martin hewitt from the national police chief counsel, who was alongside the home secretary and said he made no apology for 45,000 fixed penalty notices the police have already issued. let's talk to our political correspondent damian grammatical atticus from westminster. the home secretary was asked two or three times, are the rules of this lockdown tough enough given that the number of cases, the number of

deaths is worse than in the first lockdown, the rules seem to be less stringent. she said the rules are tough enough. yes, she did, she said that very clearly and she was pushed about that several times, that question. and really, the question about why they haven't chosen to put in tougher rules at this point than last march when the situation now appears to be worse than last march. and her answer, as you say, was that the rules are tough enough in her view and they are simple and straightforward enough. and she was pointing out that that was the basic stipulation that you can only leave home for a very limited number of reasons, if you have to go to work, if you have an emergency, medical emergency, if you are in danger, and to exercise locally. so the home secretary very much trying to focus on that. interestingly, it was the support she got from martin hewitt,

at the national police chiefs' council. he said similarly he thought the rules were simple enough. and he also turned the focus onto that question that people should ask themselves, which is that people do not need to go out and, if i absolutely have to, how can i do that safely? so to make that a question of personal responsibility, underlined by that tough message of enforcement where are egregious breaches of the law, the rules. and we sort martin hewitt lay some insta nces we sort martin hewitt lay some instances there. a boat party he was talking about —— we saw. an illegal rave being planned. those sorts of things which are really dead things police will focus on. thank you very much indeed, damian grammaticas. let's get reaction out from ken maginnis, the northumbria police and crime enough. thank you for being with us. we were hearing from the chair of the national police chiefs'

council, he said sometimes, the police will make mistakes when they are enforcing these rules. there has been a lot of discussion and it was raised again and that briefing, the case in derbyshire with the two women who drove separately five miles to go for a walk at a beauty spot and was stopped by the police, the police have ascended those fines, just occasions when the police have been overzealous. yes, absolutely, and of course, that will happen, these are new rules, these are unprecedented times, these are things we are all having to change our lives in the way we are behaving and the police have to take a sensible approach to enforcement, which i think martin hewitt backed up. and there will be occasions when things go a little bit wrong and derbyshire have apologised. but i do think the fact those women didn't know that they were doing anything wrong shows that there is a lack of clarity in some of these regulations and in some of these rules. and particularly the exercise rule, whether you can drive away from home

to exercise. where you are in northumbria, what would you say about complaints to the rules, do you think generally, people are observing the rules?” you think generally, people are observing the rules? i think the vast majority of the public are observing the rules. i think people are aware this is a deadly virus, we are aware this is a deadly virus, we are ina are aware this is a deadly virus, we are in a very dangerous fai —— phase ofa are in a very dangerous fai —— phase of a pandemic and people are aware this virus thrives on contact between them. and so keeping a part is crucial. but there are always exceptions and people who refuse to abide by the rules and, where that happens, police will step in and they will enforce. the home secretary was asked during the briefing did she think the rules currently were tough enough, she said she thinks they are, do you think they are tough enough?” said she thinks they are, do you think they are tough enough? i think we need some clarity. i mentioned the exercise away from home issue. whether it is just saying it must be from the front door like in wales, five miles from home like in scotland, people are looking for guidance. the vast majority of people want to do the right thing. so that would help them to do the

right thing, that would clarify things. but a tightening of the rules is a decision for parliament and obviously, we need to watch that situation and see how the numbers continue to change. thank you very much indeed, ken maginnis, the northumbria police and crime commissioner. let's talk to doctor simon williams, a behavioural expert from the university of swansea. to what extent do you think people understand the rules and they are complying with the rules, two rather different questions, what is your view on that? two different but related questions. in our research and the research of others, we are finding that the majority, where most people are following most of the rules most of the time, it is extraordinarily high given the circumstances, 80% to 90% plus and it has been since the start of the pandemic. the related question to what extent i understand it is more complicated because of course, if people say they do follow most of the rules but they also say they

don't really understand them, for very understandable reasons, that is a problem. so this is something we have found increasingly over the course of the pandemic. we call it a late fatigue or rule fatigue and thatis late fatigue or rule fatigue and that is as the fatigue being spoken about where people are losing motivation as was said, i think most people have remained mostly highly motivated but they are getting a little overwhelmed or confused by co nsta nt little overwhelmed or confused by constant rule changes. so where politicians say the rules are simple, that may be so for themselves, but we have had ten months of noise and rule changes and tier systems and local lockdowns and i think people are blending different rules like exercise where at one point, we could go out once per day, then it was multiple limited times and now we are back to one so limited times and now we are back to one so understandable confusion, i think. confusion because of different bills at different times of the pandemic and also because there are different rules in different parts of the united kingdom —— different rules. different rules where you are in

swa nsea different rules where you are in swansea compared to england and scotla nd swansea compared to england and scotland and northern ireland. definitely, in our research, that is again something we hear frequently and it has been backed up by other survey research, the tier system, there are epidemiological reasons for its existence, but from a public understanding perspective, it has been really confusing for a lot of people. so again, i would suggest try to focus on the rules that pertain to your country. again, it is easier said than done because there is a lot of uncertainty being built up over time. do you think there are differences in the way we behave as a society broadly in the uk compared to other countries, people in other countries and the way they have behaved and the way they have or have not obeyed their various rules and restrictions? they have or have not obeyed their various rules and restrictions7m isa various rules and restrictions7m is a really important and complex question, i think there are differences. of course we see social norms differences. of course we see social norms for example in some countries around my squaring where it took us around my squaring where it took us a long time to adopt that my squaring and there has been focused

on that —— around my squaring. upwards of 70% of people are wearing masks in public places where required. government focus on real braking has been something of a red herring or a smoke screen where i think also as was said earlier, the bigger issue is creating this non—around adherents and the majority people are doing that and should be told to keep doing what they are doing. and may be where we can tighten up is some of these little additional social contacts for example perhaps taking additional but legal chips to supermarkets in the ways we have seen supermarkets in the ways we have seen that creep up a little more in this lockdown —— additional but legal journeys to supermarkets. this lockdown —— additional but legaljourneys to supermarkets. stay at home when necessary is the way to go. doctor simon williams, behavioural expert at the university of swa nsea, behavioural expert at the university of swansea, many thanks. northern ireland's first minister arlene

foster has defended the pre—christmas easing of coronavirus restrictions as hospitals their struggle to deal with the rising admission numbers. she said one of the new variants of covid—19 was a key factor in the case numbers witnessed at the turn of the year. she also suggested the power—sharing executive may have to consider introducing another curfew if the current strict lockdown measures fail to suppress the virus efficiently. speaking at a joint press compass, she encouraged the public to take personal responsibility. we are standing today on the hill of o'neill in the heart of ulster to appeal to everybody to keep fighting to push down the curve of infection. over this last few weeks, we have, through our collective effort, driven down the r rate for cases from 1.8 to about 1.1 and that has been achieved by so many taking personal responsibility and doing the right thing. and it is the simple and everyday choices that are

making a big difference. it is deciding to phone or to facetime yourfamily and deciding to phone or to facetime your family and friends, rather than visiting. and it is doing one quick big shop, not nipping out every day for a couple of items. it is doing the best job you for a couple of items. it is doing the bestjob you can at home, not going into the workplace when you don't have to. it is attending online service, not going to church, however much not gathering in person feels billion to us. and of course, it is supporting your children's education at the kitchen table and not at school. i do want to thank each and every person who has made difficult but positive choices and also to thank the many retailers, employers, faith leaders and teachers, along with so many across society who are working hard to make it possible for people to stay at home. but i do appreciate the cost of these restrictions are having. i appreciate the weariness, we are all sick and tired of restrictions. but we absolutely must do it's to get

through it. arlene foster. sophie will be here with the news at six and a couple of minutes, now time for a look at the weather. towards the west, we never really cleared away the cloud today and it isa cleared away the cloud today and it is a battle at the moment and indeed for the next few days between that cold airand for the next few days between that cold air and the mailed air in the atlantic. that is trying to push its way further into the uk. the boundary is the weather front. that is where we see this thick cloud and outbreaks of rain in northern ireland. that will develop in wales, the south—west, towards the midlands and across the west country and over the irish sea. add a bit, more cloud, but it won't prevent a frost and it will be a cold night in scotland, northern and eastern parts of england, milder a further west with that cloud. in the money, the risk of freezing rain and ice across western scotland and the north west of england as the band of rain moves

very slowly into scotland, northern england and get stuck across the midlands towards the south east of england. it should turn drier but stay cloudy in wales and the south—west with more rain in northern ireland. signs perhaps of snow developing over the hills of scotla nd snow developing over the hills of scotland later in a day, certainly cold enough in scotland and also pretty chilly across northern and eastern parts of england. temperatures in double figures in northern ireland and much of wales and the south—west so quite a contrast across the uk. those weather fronts are moving contrast across the uk. those weatherfronts are moving in, but not very far, they are not racing across the uk and they are not really pushing the way that colder airfrom northern really pushing the way that colder air from northern and really pushing the way that colder airfrom northern and eastern really pushing the way that colder air from northern and eastern areas so air from northern and eastern areas so there will be more sleet and snow falling overnight. mainly across the hills of scotland and into northern england by thursday. elsewhere, we are looking at rain which had clear away from on island and it should turn drier in western wales and the south—west of england, but strong winds here, but again mild with temperatures 11 degrees. much colder with that wintry weather in scotland and northern and eastern parts of

england again. that wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow over the hills is going to side away during thursday night and friday it looks drier before the next weather system arrives in the north—west. not sure how much sunshine there will be on friday, probably left with a lot of cloud. the winds pick up in northern ireland, it turns rainy here and we will see the wetter weather moving into western scotland with snow over the high ground. a chilly day for many places with temperatures a bit on friday.

tonight at six — cracking down on those flouting the coronavirus rules — the home secretary says police will be getting tougher. police say they will not waste time reasoning with people breaking the rules and will find them instead. breaking up an illegal gathering as priti patel says "most of the public" are complying with the restrictions, but blames a minority of people who are putting the health of the nation at risk. if you'd not play your part, our selfless police officers, who are out there risking their own lives everyday to keep us they will enforce the regulations, and i will back them to do so. as the death toll keeps climbing steeply, the wife of a 55—year—old who died at christmas begs people not to break the rules.