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Leicester lockdown: 'More guidance needed' on rules | Leicester lockdown: 'More guidance needed' on rules |
(32 minutes later) | |
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the government had failed to give people in Leicester enough information about the local lockdown. | Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the government had failed to give people in Leicester enough information about the local lockdown. |
The MP for Leicester South made the comments as local residents and businesses also expressed frustration at the "lack of guidance". | |
Mr Ashworth told ITV's Good Morning Britain residents were anxious and "very, very scared". | |
The government said it had taken steps to provide all the information needed. | The government said it had taken steps to provide all the information needed. |
Health secretary Matt Hancock announced at 21:15 BST on Monday that people in the city would face tighter restrictions over the next fortnight in response to a spike in coronavirus cases. | Health secretary Matt Hancock announced at 21:15 BST on Monday that people in the city would face tighter restrictions over the next fortnight in response to a spike in coronavirus cases. |
Measures include the closure of shops selling non-essential items, schools being closed to most pupils and a block on non-essential travel. | Measures include the closure of shops selling non-essential items, schools being closed to most pupils and a block on non-essential travel. |
But residents have expressed to the BBC confusion over who they can and cannot see as well as questioning what constitutes essential travel. | |
A map showing which areas fell within the lockdown zone was also not made public for more than 12 hours after Mr Hancock's announcement. | A map showing which areas fell within the lockdown zone was also not made public for more than 12 hours after Mr Hancock's announcement. |
A postcode tool allowing people to check whether they lived inside the affected area was launched by the county council on Tuesday evening. | A postcode tool allowing people to check whether they lived inside the affected area was launched by the county council on Tuesday evening. |
James West, who owns a printing shop just inside the lockdown boundary in Thurmaston, said he opened as usual at 09:00 on Tuesday, only for the map to be released about an hour later, forcing him to close. | |
The 25-year-old said he was "greatly frustrated with the lack of guidance". | |
Indy Burmi, who owns two hair salons - one inside the lockdown area and one outside - said he was worried about the impact on his business. | |
"The grant we had from the council [at the start of lockdown], which was a great help, has totally vanished on bills, without paying rent," he said. | |
Mr Ashworth said the introduction of the lockdown was "slow" and had left people "still asking for information". | Mr Ashworth said the introduction of the lockdown was "slow" and had left people "still asking for information". |
"People are really worried in Leicester, people are going to be anxious," he said. "People who are shielding are very, very scared. | "People are really worried in Leicester, people are going to be anxious," he said. "People who are shielding are very, very scared. |
"The police commissioner is complaining they've been drip-fed information about what they can and can't enforce. | "The police commissioner is complaining they've been drip-fed information about what they can and can't enforce. |
"People want clarity. People want to do the right thing. They just want some clear guidance." | "People want clarity. People want to do the right thing. They just want some clear guidance." |
The prime minister's official spokesman said: "Both nationally and locally steps have been taken to ensure that people have all the information they need." | The prime minister's official spokesman said: "Both nationally and locally steps have been taken to ensure that people have all the information they need." |
The lockdown is due to be reviewed on 18 July. | The lockdown is due to be reviewed on 18 July. |
'Engaging, explaining, encouraging' | |
Leicestershire's police and crime commissioner Lord Willy Bach has said law enforcement had received "minimal guidance" on the restrictions. | Leicestershire's police and crime commissioner Lord Willy Bach has said law enforcement had received "minimal guidance" on the restrictions. |
Officers dealt with 83 complaints about breaches of Covid-19 restrictions on Tuesday, Leicestershire Police said. | Officers dealt with 83 complaints about breaches of Covid-19 restrictions on Tuesday, Leicestershire Police said. |
Chief Constable Simon Cole said the force would assist with the lockdown "using lots of common sense" and "by doing what we've been doing all the way through - engaging, explaining, encouraging and - where we need to - enforcing". | Chief Constable Simon Cole said the force would assist with the lockdown "using lots of common sense" and "by doing what we've been doing all the way through - engaging, explaining, encouraging and - where we need to - enforcing". |
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |
Do you live, work or run a business in the area? How will this affect you? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Do you live, work or run a business in the area? How will this affect you? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. |