AN MP said police have been put in an “impossible situation” with lockdown rules set to soften next Saturday.

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas said relaxing rules on a weekend would put unnecessary pressure on officers.

“Something as simple as not announcing it on a Saturday with huge fanfare would have helped I think,” she told BBC Radio 4’s World at One on Thursday.

“I think this is really difficult for the police.”

Her comments came after Police Federation chairman John Apter said the run-up to loosening lockdown had become a “countdown to carnival”.

“There are not enough of us,” he told the radio show.

“To announce this easing of lockdown on a Saturday has created almost a countdown to carnival.

“I am deeply concerned we are going to see really big problems on that day.”

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