The police will be “more quick to move to enforcement” of the lockdown rules and more likely to hand out fines as the UK government grapples with a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Crime and policing minister, Kit Malthouse, told Sky News that he hoped there would not be a need for stricter enforcement “if people play by the rules”. However, he added: “I think you will find the police are now quick to move to enforcement.”