A POLICE chief has explained how ‘Stay Local’ rules will affect travel and social distancing following the introduction of new rules.

The national chairman of the Police Federation, John Apter, made the comments as a raft of lockdown measures were eased yesterday.

The biggest change comes to the end of the ‘Stay at Home’ rule, which is now ‘Stay Local’. He said that while the former was legally enforceable, the latter is not.

Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, he said: “What’s been announced is that the government say you should stay at home, you should limit your travel, but that’s not legislation.

"It's not a rule, it's guidance, and as I said, guidance is not legally enforceable.

"As a member of the public, we've got a moral duty to our fellow citizens but it’s not legally enforceable."

In response, Susanna Reid, host of Good Morning Britain, said: "Legally there is no restriction on the distance you can travel or the number of journeys you can make."

He added that travel would now be policed in a similar way to social distancing measures, saying: “It’s the same with social distancing. In some parts of the country and the devolved governments there’s some element of law around social distancing but in England there’s not.

“I think people expect the police to enforce social distancing but it’s not legally enforceable.”

He continued: ““They’ll [Police Officers] be doing what they’ve been doing throughout this crisis and be engaging with people.”

However, he added that the guidance remained unclear.

He said: “There’s been an awful lot of confusion about what’s happening, and that is why I am calling on the Prime Minister and the devolved governments to be crystal clear on the guidance.”

While rules on travel have been relaxed, and up to six people or two households can now meet outside, police will still be enforcing other legally binding rules.

Nigel Huddleston, minister for sport and tourism, said: “The police are there to implement the law and there are still laws here and they will implement fines. So if there’re large gatherings, again remember it’s a rule of six and up to six, but only six or two households, so if the police see people breaking those rules they can intervene, they can break up and, as I say, if necessary fine.

“I recognise it’s more difficult in people’s private gardens and that’s why we’re appealing to people to be sensible for the sake of their health and others, please don’t break the rules.”