Police will stop people fleeing new Covid tier 4 areas, ministers say | UK news | The Guardian
Police will be asked to block anyone from driving out of tier 4 areas and extra officers will be deployed at railway stations to clamp down on non-essential journeys, it has been announced, following crowded scenes at transport hubs in the capital.
The new tier 4 measures imposed from Sunday in London and the south-east indefinitely prohibit non-essential travel out of the area as well as household mixing, including throughout the festive period.
The new measures marked a sharp U-turn by the UK government, who just days before stood by plans to allow cross-nation, cross-tier travel for household mixing for a period of up to five days.
The last-minute announcement on Saturday prompted a rush to London train stations and by 7pm, there were no tickets available online from several London stations including Paddington, King s Cross and Euston.