Dame Priti Patel, the former Home Secretary, has admitted that the £10,000 fines for breaking lockdown restrictions were excessive. During her appearance at the Covid inquiry, she expressed her belief that the maximum fine enforced from the summer of 2020 was "very high" and not in proportion to the offenses committed. Interestingly, it was revealed that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had advocated for even harsher penalties during the pandemic.

Dame Priti challenges Matt Hancock's Health Department

Like several other witnesses, Dame Priti Patel placed blame on Matt Hancock's Health Department for the strict enforcement of lockdown measures. She claimed that the department was responsible for creating the draconian restrictions that resulted in heavy-handed policing. Inquiry lawyer Hugo Keith highlighted a note from Boris Johnson, in which he called for "tougher enforcement and BIGGER FINES." Despite this, Dame Priti maintained her stance that the fines were disproportionate.

Scotland Yard's handling of Sarah Everard vigil

Dame Priti also expressed her dismay at how the Metropolitan Police, also known as Scotland Yard, handled the vigil for Sarah Everard. She described the footage of officers pinning down women on Clapham Common as "totally inappropriate policing." This statement adds to the ongoing controversy surrounding the police's handling of the vigil and raises questions about their use of force.

Delay in enforcing new laws

During the inquiry, Martin Hewitt, the former chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council, revealed that officers faced challenges in enforcing new laws due to a last-minute approval by Matt Hancock. The regulations were signed off just 16 minutes before they were set to come into effect at 12.01 am. Hewitt expressed his frustration, stating that he had informed the home secretary that the police would not be able to enforce the regulations on that day, as they needed more time to ensure officers understood their responsibilities.