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SPI-B paper "Public disorder and public health - contemporary threats and risks" discussed at SAGE #45 on 2 July highlights the possibility that the re-imposition of lockdown measures could be 'next to impossible' & 'likely to require military support' https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spi-b-public-disorder-and-public-health-contemporary-threats-and-risks-2-july-2020
"Local lockdown carries with it a series of threats to social cohesion and public order.
Some media narratives are reinforcing claims that Asian and Black people in areas of local lockdown are potentially responsible for disproportionately spreading the virus."
Some media narratives are reinforcing claims that Asian and Black people in areas of local lockdown are potentially responsible for disproportionately spreading the virus."
• Has been a step-change in threat levels since the last sustained period of serious rioting in 2011
• Police are in a far weaker position in terms of capacity to deal with these threats
• Police weaknesses were a factor in the spread of urban disorder during those riots
• Police are in a far weaker position in terms of capacity to deal with these threats
• Police weaknesses were a factor in the spread of urban disorder during those riots
"If upstream intervention is not taken, amplification of the conditions for serious public disorder in multiple locations is likely to develop."
"If serious disorder does develop, it will have a detrimental impact on public health, facilitating the spread of disease, making the re-imposition of measures to control the spread of COVID-19 next to impossible and would be likely to
require military support."
require military support."
"In the next few weeks and months the UK will face grave challenges to public order.
The situation is volatile and highly complex. Tensions resulting from the pandemic and lockdown have become inextricably bound with structural inequalities and international events. "
The situation is volatile and highly complex. Tensions resulting from the pandemic and lockdown have become inextricably bound with structural inequalities and international events. "
"While widespread urban disorder is not inevitable... the situation in the UK is precariously balanced & the smallest error in policing (perceived or real, inside or outside the UK) or policy could unleash a dynamic which will make the management of COVID-19 all but impossible."
"Put simply, a serious deterioration of public order could overwhelm all attempts to control contagion, overwhelm
hospitals, the criminal justice system and hinder revival of the economy."
hospitals, the criminal justice system and hinder revival of the economy."
