Long sets out exact new rules on exercise – possible £5k fines await lawbreakers

The penalties will be meted out to people who are caught leaving home “without a reasonable excuse” – but she said that the list of excuses will be “a long one”.

She made the comments in the Assembly today evening, focussing largely on the rights people will have to exercise.

It came after Mark Lindsay, the head of the Police Federation (the de facto trade union of the PSNI) told the BBC that politicians must be careful not to leave “gaps” in the law.

He had told BBC Radio Ulster: “Are there powers of entry for people having house parties? Well no, there’s probably not powers of entry included in this legislation.

“So how do you enforce such legislation whenever people are having parties in their house?”

He said it was not “practical or fair” to leave officers to contend with unenforceable laws.

Mrs Long began her speech by saying: “Freedom of movement is one of the essential human rights we all have. And it’s a sign of the unprecedented times were in that those freedoms are being reduced.”

The new rules will take effect from midnight tomorrow night.

“The new restriction on movement regulations will make it an offence for someone to leave the place they normally live without a reasonable excuse,” she said.

“The legislation will set out a list of exceptions which would constitute a ‘reasonable excuse’.

“The list is a long one but it will include necessary attendance at work, accessing goods from businesses which can legitimately open, accessing medical care, and taking exercise.

“In short, if the purpose of travel is to go somewhere which is legitimately open, then it will be lawful to travel there.

“Full details of the list will be available once the regulations have been finalised.”

On the subject of exercise, she said: “The regulations will allow an individual to exercise as many times as they wish, to do so alone, with their household, or with their linked household where they have one...

“Or to exercise with one individual from another household to whom they are not linked.”

She said this is so “individuals living alone, but not part of a bubbling arrangement, can still benefit from social interaction but in a low-risk and managed way, where social distancing is observed”.

She said people will be asked not to travel more than 10 miles for exercise, but that “it is not proportionate to make this law” because “the experience of the last nine months is that the vast majority of people do pay careful attention both to the law and the public guidance that is in place”.

In terms of punishments, being away from home without reasonable excuse will be “subject to a £200 fine, or fine of up to £5,000 if the case goes to court”.

In addition, police will have the power to direct people to return to their home, and have the power “to remove a person to where they normally reside”.

The new rules will be in force until February 5, but the Executive will review them by January 21.

More from this reporter:

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