Passengers who crowded on to trains to escape the tightening of Covid-19 restrictions in London have been branded “totally irresponsible” by the UK's health secretary.
Matt Hancock condemned the busy scenes on Saturday night which came after the prime minister announced tougher coronavirus measures for the capital.
Extra police officers are to be deployed to enforce travel rules at London’s stations, with the public being urged to adhere to government guidance.
The packed out trains came after Boris Johnson placed millions of people living in Tier 3 parts of London, the south-east and east of England in a new Tier 4.
The changes, which came into force at midnight on Saturday, mean households mixing over Christmas is banned, travel into or out of Tier 4 areas is only permitted for very limited reasons and overnight stays away from home are largely prohibited.
I think those scenes were totally irresponsible
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Appearing on the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, Mr Hancock said: “I think those scenes were totally irresponsible.
“We have all got a responsibility.
“We in Government of course have a responsibility, but so does every single person.
“The plea that I have is that people will play their part, because it is only by acting, all of us, that we can get this under control.”
In a statement, UK transport secretary Grant Shapps said it was “incredibly important” that people followed guidance, stayed at home and did not try to travel.
He added: “If you are in Tier 4, the law means you must stay at home and you cannot stay overnight away from home.
“Across the rest of the country, you must stay local. Follow the guidance and please do not come to a station unless you are permitted to travel.
“Extra BTP (British Transport Police) officers are being deployed to ensure only those who need to take essential journeys can travel safely.”
Unfortunately the new #Covid_19 strain is up to 70% more transmissible! It's vital to follow the new guidance to protect others & our NHS. If you're in Tier 4 you must not travel – or stay away from home overnight. Stay at home! Extra @BTP officers deployed to keep people safe.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) December 20, 2020
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Public Health England’s Dr Susan Hopkins said she hoped travellers would reduce their contacts for the next few days to avoid spreading coronavirus.
She told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show: “I understand people’s wish to get home to their families and loved ones that they may live with on a normal day-to-day basis and wanted to get out of London last night.
“I hope that when they go to wherever they are moving to they reduce their social contacts and don’t contact anyone outside their household for the next 10 days, as that will help minimise the risk of transmission to other parts of the country.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the crowded scenes were “a direct consequence of the chaotic way the announcement was made”.
He told BBC Breakfast: “I understand why people want to return to see their mums, dads, elderly relations, but I think it’s wrong.”
He warned Londoners that they may not realise they have the virus and could risk spreading it to relatives.
On Saturday night travellers were told that social distancing “will not be possible” due to the volume of people on trains, and those that felt “uncomfortable” should not stay on board.
Footage online showed large crowds at St Pancras station waiting to board trains to Leeds.
