'Rule of six' coronavirus laws were published minutes before they came into force as parliament bypassed yet again

The government has bypassed parliament for numerous coronavirus laws since March but the ‘urgency’ argument is wearing thin, Lizzie Dearden writes

Police have received reports of more than 194,300 coronavirus-related incidents so far

Complex new laws underpinning England’s new “rule of six” coronavirus restrictions were not published until minutes before they came into force.

The late appearance of the new Health Protection Regulations shortly before midnight on Sunday sparked fresh anger over the way ministers are introducing laws to combat the pandemic.

It meant that police officers had no guidance on how to enforce the new restrictions on the first day they were in effect, while there were indications of widespread public confusion over the numerous exemptions to the law.