POLICE say they “cannot enforce social distancing by law” after officers escorted a protest march along a promenade.

Several officers attended as a group of about 30 campaigners made their way along Hove seafront yesterday afternoon.

Read more>>>Lockdown protesters march along Hove promenade

Government advice states that “with the social distancing guidance it is advised that large gatherings should not take place”.

But Sussex Police said it would not have had any powers to enforce social distancing at the protest event.

A force spokeswoman said: “A small protest took place along Hove seafront on Monday, monitored by police to ensure that it passed off without any issues.

“The policing role is to maintain law and order and protect public safety. We cannot enforce social distancing by law but encourage people to do so.”

The protest was spotted by shocked onlookers at about 2pm yesterday.

One passerby said they were unsure what those marching were protesting about, with some bearing banners which had anti-5G slogans painted on them while others objected to a potential vaccine.

One protester, who delivered a speech to other group members through a megaphone at Hove Lawns, said: “Are we willing to wait for a crowd while it flounders and tries to get out the sorry mess it’s gotten into while evading any responsibility? Do our rights need restoring?”

The protest came after plans for a "mass gathering" on Brighton and Hove seafront on Saturday - with a poster organising the event being circulated on social media.

But these plans never materialised.

On Friday, in response to news that there could be a protest, the police said: "We are aware of a planned mass gathering in Brighton this Saturday.

The Argus:

“While, under normal circumstances, we fully support the right to protest peacefully; during the current pandemic this right is superseded by the right to life in line with the new public health regulations.

“Our over-riding aim is to protect and keep people safe.

“We will continue our policing approach of engaging, explaining and encouraging and only as an absolute last resort will we enforce.

"We do not want to criminalise people unnecessarily; we appreciate the pressures that the public are facing, but we will use our powers if necessary.

The Argus:

“Anyone planning or promoting protests should be aware that if these activities result in protest activity, any participants may make themselves liable to police engagement and enforcement.”

Yesterday, regarding Monday’s protest, the police added: “We applied our usual policing approach of engaging with those involved in the protest, explaining the government restriction in relation to a gathering and encouraging them to social distance to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

"We will use the enforcement options available to us, in a proportionate way and only as a last resort, if they do not comply."

  • The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund