Some people in England who cannot work from home are returning to their workplaces, as the government begins easing some lockdown measures.
The government urged people to avoid public transport if possible.
But some commuters said trains and buses were still too busy to observe social distancing rules.
Meanwhile, new guidance issued by the College of Policing said officers had “no powers to enforce two-metre distancing” in England.
Under the new rules in England, people can now spend more time outside and move house.
Garden centres can reopen and sports that are physically distanced – such as golf – are now permitted.
Two people from different households can meet in outdoor settings, such as parks, as long as they stay more than 2m apart.
However, government guidance on maintaining a 2m distance, avoiding public transport and wearing face coverings in enclosed spaces is “not enforceable” by officers in England, according to the fresh guidelines from the College
of Policing. It follows a speech by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday in which he unveiled a “conditional plan” aimed at reopening society.
This has led to a divergence in lockdown rules between the UK government and the devolved administrations, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland keeping stricter measures in place and retaining the message to stay at home.
It comes as figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the UK economy shrank at the fastest pace since the financial crisis in the first quarter of 2020.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the BBC it was “very likely” the UK would face a “significant recession” as a result of the pandemic. The number of people who have died after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK has reached 33,186, a rise of 494 on the previous day.
The lockdown has brought immense challenges for the police service.
Although crime has plummeted and police sickness rates have been far lower than expected, officers have found themselves caught in the middle of a web of hastily-drawn up regulations and guidelines.
The latest police guidance for England suggests their job won’t be any easier as it makes clear they can only enforce the law – not government advice.
