The vast majority of the public are following government regulations enacted in response to the crisis.

Police forces have seen crime reduce by 28 per cent in the four weeks to April 12 compared to the same period last year.

The provisional data also shows serious assaults and personal robbery have fallen by 27 per cent and rape 37 per cent.  Falls have also been seen in residential burglary (down 37 per cent), vehicle crime (down 34 per cent) and shoplifting (down 54 per cent).

Calls to 999 are down by 14 per cent and we have seen a 13 per cent drop in 101 calls. Many more people are reporting online – a 61 per cent increase.

Fines for breaches of government public health regulations issued by police officers in England and Wales equate to less than 0.01 per cent of the eligible population in England and Wales – with 3,203 fines issued in England between March 27 and the April 13.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: “The figures released by the NPCC today concerning the amount of fixed penalty notices (FPN) issued for breaches of COVID-19 legislation paint a clear picture of just how challenging a situation this is for both the public and police.
“We are in unchartered territory regarding enforcement of breaching the Government guidelines and I want to thank the public for continuing to work with us as we strive to get the right balance between engagement and enforcement. The vast majority of people across Greater Manchester are observing the Government advice and staying home to save lives; however there are some who are still ignoring it.

“Greater Manchester Police has issued 38 FPNs so far, which is comparable to some of the other forces with similar demographics. I cannot speak for other forces but our approach first and foremost is always to engage with our communities, explain to them what the guidelines are and encourage them to follow the advice before moving to an enforcement phase as a last resort.

“We have a number of plans which we are constantly reviewing on a daily basis to ensure that we are achieving the right balance in our approach and addressing any issues that arise. This includes working closely with all partner agencies, including local authorities, Trading Standards, GMCA and other emergency services.

“At the start of the lockdown, local authorities sent letters and advice to all businesses to reiterate the government guidance and to ensure all those providing a key service follow social distancing measures. They have continued to do this as and when issues have arisen.

“Where necessary, visits have been conducted by Trading Standards and local authorities, with support from officers across the force. We also have dedicated daily patrol plans on each district which are updated regularly with any specific areas of concern in relation to open spaces, such as parks and beauty spots.

“The Covid-19 legislation has been designed to be used in public spaces, however our challenge across Greater Manchester has been focused on the large number of house parties, which has meant there are limitations on our use of FPN’s in private dwellings. We are working closely with partners and local authorities to reinforce the stay at home messaging ensuring everyone stays safe and helps protect the NHS during these times.

“If anybody has any concerns about potential breaches of the Government guidelines then I would encourage them to contact us using the dedicated COVID-19 reporting section of our website.

“It’s important that we continue to support each other to protect the NHS and save lives. I appreciate this is an incredibly challenging time for everyone but we must stick to the guidelines and follow the advice so that we can get through this together. Thank you.”