Metropolitan Police chief Cressida Dick has warned revellers not to ‘over indulge’ when lockdown rules ease on Monday.
The force’s commissioner said bars and restaurants will be a ‘big focus’ for officers stopping alcohol-related violence across the capital city.
Speaking today, she added that it is ‘perfectly possible’ some people may ‘over-indulge’ as they are allowed back into pubs with friends.
The next stage of the roadmap out of lockdown is going ahead as planned, with up to six people or two different households able to meet indoors from May 17.
Metropolitan Police chief Cressida Dick has warned revellers not to ‘over indulge’ when lockdown rules ease on Monday as officers target bars and restaurants across the capital city
Dame Cressida told LBC: ‘Our particular focus, as there’s more footfall on the streets, and perhaps more people returning to work, is that we are looking after, being present at, and stopping crimes happening to women and men who are commuting.
‘A big focus for us will be the licensed economy, because now people can go indoors, it’s perfectly possible after all this long time of being unable to see our friends, that some people will over-indulge.
‘London is not actually – when you compare it with other cities – a city that has massive problems with alcohol-related violence.
‘But of course that is an issue. We will be out there in the areas where we think there could be trouble.’
During her interview with radio presenter Nick Ferrari, Dame Cressida discussed the investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, saying it will ‘continue until there is nothing left to do’.
The police chief also spoke about Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN’s) sometimes making it ‘harder’ for officers to get to their destinations as quickly as before.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed on Monday that pubs and restaurants can reopen indoor areas from next week as virus cases tumble, but refused to speed up the roadmap to the astonishment of the hospitality sector.
Pub and hospitality bosses warned that, until curbs are eased completely on June 21, firms whose trade has been decimated by the pandemic will continue to lose money even when they reopen indoors.
Speaking today, Dame Cressida added that it is ‘perfectly possible’ some people may ‘over-indulge’ as they are allowed back into pubs with friends (pictured: people at Soho on April 16)
Responding to the Downing Street announcement earlier this week, Patrick Dardis, chief executive of pub group Young’s, said: ‘Young’s accepts the cautious approach the Prime Minister has been taking.
‘All of us hope that this means that we can safely and sensibly get to the end of the road, when relaxation of restrictions are indeed irreversible.
‘It has been a brutal 14 months for a sector that employs millions of people and contributes billions of pounds to the Treasury in normal times.’
According to the real estate adviser Altus Group, 99,045 indoor hospitality premises in England will be able to reopen on May 17.
Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, said: ‘It’s great that from next Monday we’ll be able to welcome our customers back inside our pubs and get more of our team members back to work.
‘Since we reopened outdoors in some of our pubs in April, frequent spells of cold and wet weather have made it particularly trying for our teams who are serving our customers outside.
A Covid marshal from Westminster City Council stands on duty as people drink outdoors at re-opened bars in the Soho area on London o April 16
People drink at tables outside a pub in Soho, central London, on April 17. Since April 12, pubs have only been allowed to pull pints for punters in beer gardens
‘Even though the vast majority of our of our pubs will be open next week, we’ll still be operating at significantly reduced capacity, so it’s essential all restrictions disappear as promised on June 21 so we can return to the full pub experience that people have missed so much.’
Since April 12, pubs have only been allowed to pull pints for punters in beer gardens – but just 40 per cent of the industry has been able to do so, according to industry bodies.
Most social contact rules outdoors will be lifted on Monday, although gatherings of more than 30 outdoors will stay illegal until at least June 21 – the final stage of the roadmap.
But indoor hospitality, entertainment venues such as cinemas, theatre and soft play areas and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes will all reopen.
The rest of the accommodation sector will also return, with people from different households now allowed to mix in hotels and self-catering properties.
The much-criticised cap on the number of mourners at funerals will be lifted, while up to 30 people will be allowed at weddings and other life events.
