Top police officer says it’s ‘crystal clear’ drunk people will not socially distance

People gather in Soho last night as pubs reopened across England for the first time in months (Picture: REUTERS)

A top police officer has said it is ‘crystal clear’ drunk people can’t properly socially distance after chaotic scenes were seen across the UK last night.

Pubs reopened in England for the first time in months as Brits got a taste of what life was like before the lockdown.  

But as pictures of packed streets on ‘Super Saturday’ continued well into the early hours this morning, the chairman of the Police Federation, John Apter, gave a damning assessment of the social distancing on display.

Mr Apter, who was on shift in Southampton where he dealt with ‘naked men, happy drunks, angry drunks, fights and more angry drunks’, said: ‘What was crystal clear is that drunk people can’t/won’t socially distance.

‘It was a busy night but the shift managed to cope. I know other areas have had issues with officers being assaulted.’

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There was disorder in north Nottinghamshire too, where four people were arrested and several pubs decided to close after alcohol related anti-social behaviour.

Police officers walks through heavy crowds in Soho (Picture: Peter Summers/Getty Images)

A couple hug outside a pub in Soho as Brits across the UK went to bars and pubs for the first time in months (Picture: Peter Summers/Getty Images)

A major easing of lockdown measures in England saw pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas opening their doors again under modified social distancing regulations.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Government experts urged people to stick to the rules to avoid creating a second wave of coronavirus.

Professor Chris Whitty said the pandemic ‘is a long way from gone’ and urged the public to follow social-distancing rules as pubs and restaurants reopened.

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Speaking on Friday, Prof Whitty said: ‘None of us believe, and I’m sure nobody watching this believes, this is a risk-free next step. It is absolutely not, that is why we have to be really serious about it.

‘There’s no doubt these are environments whose principal job it is to bring people together, that’s a great thing to do socially but it’s also a great thing from the virus’s point of view.

‘Therefore, we do have to have a really clear and really disciplined approach to try and maintain social distancing whilst also enjoying pubs.’

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