POLICE will start randomly stopping drivers to check their journeys are necessary.

West Mercia Police said the majority of people are following instructions to stay indoors, but it will fine or arrest those who ignore the warnings.

Chief Superintendent Tom Harding said: “We will be out speaking with the public and conducting roads policing checks which will involve randomly stopping people to make sure their journey are within the rules. This global pandemic is a national emergency and I am sure we will all work together to help protect the elderly, the vulnerable and those most at risk in our communities. By following the national advice we can all help to make a difference.”

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Officers will be providing reassurance and support to their local communities over the coming weeks after the government’s appeal for the public to limit contact with others. Chief Superintendent Harding said that he believes local communities will work with the police to help support the NHS in their response to the Covid-19 virus.

He said: “There is no doubt we are entering a critical phase to our policing response to Covid-19 and we are currently working to focus our resources towards our frontline response. I’m confident our communities will work with us and we will support them by educating and guiding where we can.

“We’re engaging with business and individuals - the majority of whom are respecting the new rules to protect themselves and their families. However, a small minority have been advised and dispersed. The advice is simple - Stay home, save lives.”

He added: “For the minority who think it’s still okay to ignore the warnings then we won’t shy aware from using our enforcement powers to protect our communities. We will direct, fine and arrest if necessary.”

Chief Superintendent Harding said officers themselves are practising social distancing and are working alongside the same colleagues to prevent them coming into contact with more people than is absolutely necessary.