Dominic Cummings’s trip to Barnard Castle “might have been a minor breach” of lockdown rules, Durham Police has concluded in its investigation. But it also said they won’t take any action against him which might send the mixed signal to the public. Dominic Cumming who took a 50-mile round trip to Barnard Castle with his wife and son to check his eyesight on his wife’s birthday claimed that he didn’t regret what he did. He clearly said he did not break any rules but Durham Police contradicts his statement saying it was a breach of regulation 6 of the Health Protection act. Here is the statement by Durham Police
NEW: Durham Police statement says Dominic Cummings *did* break lockdown rules during his stay in Durham. pic.twitter.com/OSMXLrjDj4
— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) May 28, 2020
What would happen if the public commits a similar offense?
According to the Independent, At least two people who made the same kind journey from London to County Durham has been fined. If there is no “one rule of us and one rule for them” as Cummings claimed why he has not he been fined like the rest of the public. This decision might create a slippery slope If the excuse given by Commings can be taken as a reasonable excuse then anything can be considered as reasonable in comparison to that.
here are some of the reactions to this news.
If Durham Police do conclude that Dominic Cummings broke the rules, it would mean the Prime Minister, Health Secretary and most of the Cabinet were wrong about the very rules they were responsible for drawing up, introducing and urging everyone to follow. Extraordinary.
— Ben Kentish LBC (@BenKentish) May 28, 2020
People are rightfully confused by word “minor breach”
I do not understand why Durham Police are not going to fine Cummings. There is no such thing as a "minor breach". There is only a breach – or not a breach. What sort of a signal does it send for them to fine normal people but not the man who is running the country?
— Jo Maugham QC (@JolyonMaugham) May 28, 2020
