The UK has recently passed laws making it a criminal offence for individuals to leave their homes without a valid excuse, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While adults can be issued with a fixed penalty notice (i.e. pay an on-the-spot fine to void a criminal conviction) for violating this law, children cannot – and concerns have been raised that this could lead to an increase in the number of children being arrested. Of further concern is police can use reasonable force to enforce these laws, even against unaccompanied minors, and that children of BME (black and minority ethnic) background and looked after children could be disproportionately affected.  

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