Fiction: Guidance is law. The Police and public understand both. Law: The government guidance on lockdown 3.0 opens with apparently deliberate ambiguity: “You should follow this guidance immediately. This is the law.” The juxtaposition of those sentences, even with the link included, appears intended to suggest the law requires you to follow the guidance. Such […]
The law of lockdown 3.0 (from January 6th) Read More »
Fiction: Lockdown is good for the nation’s health and follows an impact assessment. Law: From 5th November 2020 England dispenses with tiers and moves on with The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020. The regulations as made will cease to have effect after 28 days. By this stage, the various regulations settled
The law of Lockdown 2.0 (from Nov 5th) Read More »
Fiction: Groups of students and sections of the population can be detained for 14 days as a group in their halls or residence or apartment blocks under the new self-isolation regulations. Law: The ‘self-isolation’ restrictions came into force from 28 September 2020, although they relate only to tests conducted after that date, for 12 months.
Self-isolation regulations (and ‘close contact’) Read More »
Fiction: People in Greater Manchester cannot meet up with each other and must stay at home as much as possible. Law: From Wednesday 5th August 2020, new laws were introduced over the ‘protected area’ of Greater Manchester area restricting its inhabitants from receiving people into their homes visiting anyone’s home in England that is outside
Greater Manchester – the new restrictions Read More »
Fiction: Everyone must wear masks in shops and restaurants and controllers of premises can insist they are worn. Law: From 24th July 2020, in England the wearing of a face covering in ‘relevant places’ has, subject to a ‘reasonable excuse’ exemption, been made a legal requirement. Children under the age of 11 are excluded. The
Face covering for 6 to 12 months from 24th July Read More »
Fiction: Guidance on social distancing and other restrictions must be applied equally to everyone. Law: Applying restrictions and rules equally to everyone – enforced queuing, closing toilet facilities, restricting use of lifts, insistence on wearing masks etc – will result in unlawful discrimination, most obviously against citizens with disabilities. Discrimination laws under the Equality Act
Disability discrimination – some common decency, please. Read More »
