Police on the Isle of Wight will use "common sense and discretion" while enforcing the Government's new 'rule of six', according to the force's Assistant Chief Constable.
Maggie Blyth says she is confident people on the Island, and across Hampshire, will follow restrictions.
New rules introduced yesterday (Monday), mean that gatherings of more than six people, indoors or outdoors, are prohibited.
There are some exemptions, which can be found on the Government website.
Assistant Chief Constable, Maggie Blyth, said:
"Thanks to everyone’s efforts, infection rates in our area remain low, but we have seen rises in cases across the county and in other parts of the country, and we must all continue to take personal responsibility to prevent the spread of this deadly virus.
"Limiting the spread of infection is primarily the responsibility of public health, and not just down to the police, and we will continue to work with businesses, government, hospitality owners, local authorities, universities and others.
"Our approach throughout the pandemic has been to engage, explain and encourage people to comply with the regulations, and this will continue.
"We will use common sense and discretion to determine what is reasonable."
Police say they will take enforcement action, including issuing fines and directing people to leave an area as a last resort.
Assistant Chief Constable Blyth added:
"We have found that the majority of breaches reported to us can be resolved without having to issue a fine.
"As you will expect, we have proportionate plans in place with dedicated patrols, and we will be out in our communities, speaking to people and making sure they understand what is required.
"You can tell us about possible breaches of regulations via our website.
"Our officers are also working hard to keep us safe from the full range of crimes, and demand is at pre-pandemic levels. Please continue to work with us and remember we are here for you if you need help."
In an emergency, police are advising Islanders to dial 999.
You can also report crime via Hampshire Constabulary's website (https://www.hampshire.police.
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