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“Get Heavy With Police” to Enforce Lockdown, Matt Hancock told Ministers

by Will Jones
2 March 2023 6:57 PM

Ministers and the country’s most senior civil servant discussed how they needed to “get heavy with the police” to crack down on the public during the Covid pandemic. The Telegraph has the story.

WhatsApp messages in the Lockdown Files disclose how Matt Hancock and colleagues gave officers their “marching orders” to enforce lockdown measures, just days before Number 10 staff held a party in Downing Street.

They also messaged about how “the plod got their marching orders” during a meeting attended by the prime minister, the home secretary and Simon Case, now the Cabinet Secretary.

Despite ministers claiming in public that the police are operationally independent of the Government, the leaked messages reveal that senior officers were hauled into Number 10 to be told they should be stricter with the public.

The first conversation took place in late August 2020 after Mr Case, then a permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office, asked Mr. Hancock, the then Health Secretary: 

The leaked messages also show that the pair again returned to their fears that police were failing to crack down on alleged lockdown breaches.

After a meeting on January 10th 2021, shortly after another lockdown had begun, Mr Hancock wrote to Mr Case: 

Mr Case replied to the message but did not address the comment about the police.

The messages also show ministers and officials celebrating police cracking down on Covid rule-breakers and the implementation of other hardline rules.

Mr. Case joked with Mr Hancock in February 2021 about the public being kept in quarantine hotels to avoid a fine.

The next month, as concern mounted about importing cases of the virus from abroad, Boris Johnson said it was “superb” that two people had been fined £10,000 for returning to Dubai without quarantining.

Worth reading in full.

Tags: COVID-19LockdownLockdown FilesLockdown harmsMatt HancockPolice

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32 Comments
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Hugh
Hugh
2 years ago

I previously labelled this man Stick At Nought Hancock. Seems I was right How many women protesting peacefully against horrendous human rights abuses got duffed up because of this man and his government colleagues (whilst the likes of BLM and Insulate Britain were indulged)? Abuses ignored by the msm who later shed crocodile tears about police brutality in China. Disgusting, and there must be justice and accountability.

And thankyou to the brave people who continued to protest publicly during the dark Winter of 2020-21.

Last edited 2 years ago by Hugh
212
0
Chris P
Chris P
2 years ago
Reply to  Hugh

Particularly, the men and women with the megaphones. I know they were targeted by the police.

42
0
olaffreya
olaffreya
2 years ago

A mature democracy? No, a sick parody of one. Odium in abundance. My wife just read the above – ‘It just makes me feel physically sick, Olaf.’ The nausea continues on and on.

151
-1
RW
RW
2 years ago
Reply to  olaffreya

Especially the 149 chose to enter the country and are now in quarantine hotels due to their own free will! Hilarious! bit.

“Ah, well, we’re in a dangerous global pandemic, hence, the rule of law unfortunately had to be suspended! This is all just for your own protection!” Having thus addressed his latest round of victims, the health minister snappily turned on the spot and walked away. He even managed to avoid laughing out loudly until he had disappeared behind the nearest corner. But the new inmates of the National Health Security Authority Dangerous Germs Isolation Facility 2.0 could still hear him.

47
0
Free Lemming
Free Lemming
2 years ago

I see the usual suspects (e.g. BBC, Guardian etc) are trying to spin it. Shock. The only mild surprise is to see the Telegraph publish it. The same piece of sh*t that promoted it all and banned people (including me) from posting anything that went against their Nazi-like propaganda. Still, this looks like a limited hangout to me. Just enough to tickle the shackles, but not enough to raise them. Maybe, as Stewart posted on a previous article, a justification for the WHO to manage pandemics, as we can’t rely on inept politicians?

146
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Sceptical Steve
Sceptical Steve
2 years ago
Reply to  Free Lemming

As I understand it, as a mainstream supporter of the Conservative Party, the DT has been sitting on this story for a number of weeks, effectively seeking the best possible time to use it. In this context, it’s no surprise to see that it’s been released to provide an effective distraction from the Prime minister’s “miraculous deal” that’s apparently resolved the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Also, by framing the stories in the way thay have, the DT’s intentions seem to be to ensure that Hancock, Case etc. (henceforth regarded as “Dead Men Walking”) are seen as the central instigators and implementers of the disastrous policies. leaving Rishi and the majority of his current cabinet able to distance themselves from the fiasco.

42
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Bella Donna
Bella Donna
2 years ago
Reply to  Free Lemming

I was surprised the DT published it because they are a large part of the problem too. However on reflection if they didn’t someone else would have and this was too hot a potato to pass on.

8
0
TheGreenAcres
TheGreenAcres
2 years ago

Given that they knew this was guidance and not law this seems like a particular open and shut case of abuse of power. Are there no criminal offences for this? Could Midazolam Matt be going down (rather than down under).

119
0
FerdIII
FerdIII
2 years ago
Reply to  TheGreenAcres

Ministers have almost unlimited powers and are above the law. This is true in ‘normal’ times, and doubly true after Pharma-ment passed the Rona Fascist Enabling Act. This is why every court action against the Rona mandates fails. The Court will simply say ‘pandemic’ and ’emergency powers’. Yes the elite in Pfizer-ment are above the law and have been since Richard II.

Last edited 2 years ago by FerdIII
23
-2
transmissionofflame
transmissionofflame
2 years ago

Most people I know would have applauded this at the time – probably still would now. I’ve not had a single person I know say to me “you were right”.

128
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stewart
stewart
2 years ago
Reply to  transmissionofflame

Similar reaction to all this.

What’s the news exactly? That they actually meant to enforce the draconian rules they created?

If the text messages would have shown them being lax about the rules, asking the police to go easy, the story would have been the government never really believed in what they were asking us to do.

We knew what happened. It was draconian. It was awful. They were bastards for putting us through it. These text messages reveal nothing we didn’t already know.

70
-3
Myra
Myra
2 years ago
Reply to  transmissionofflame

I had one this weekend who said in a roundabout way that she had told her daughter that she would come to me for medical advice in future…

13
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Bella Donna
Bella Donna
2 years ago
Reply to  transmissionofflame

To admit they were wrong is a step too far for those with no backbone or strength of character.

10
0
jeepybee
jeepybee
2 years ago

I still can’t help but feel that this “leaked WhatsApp” stuff is a little convenient and I’m a little sceptical of it all. It’s either misdirection, deflection or scapegoating. Most likely, all three…

In any case, don’t expect any apologies or vindication. They still all remain in the same soggy circle-jerk.

83
-3
ELH
ELH
2 years ago
Reply to  jeepybee

I’m very impressed that Hancock for all his dyslexia can spell so well – my dyslexic acquaintance’s whatsapp messages are incomprehensible… can we smell a rat?

0
0
Nearhorburian
Nearhorburian
2 years ago

I don’t believe these are real messages exchanged at the time.

15
-34
Mogwai
Mogwai
2 years ago

Sorry crappy Telegraph rag with your back-stabbing, lame as hell excuses for journalists. This Hancockwomble distraction schtick doesn’t wash with me. I’m not taking my eyes off the real imminent threat ( or one of them ) that is incoming, I don’t care what you attempt to wave in my face!

”WHO outlined its plans for global vaccine passports in a series of proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) — a legally binding instrument that imposes different conditions on 196 countries when WHO declares certain types of health emergencies.

As governments around the world wind down their vaccine passport programs, the unelected World Health Organization (WHO) is trying to make this Covid-era surveillance technology permanent and global.

New text has been added to allow Member States to require “documents containing data for laboratory testing in digital or physical form” and “information on vaccination against diseases”.
The second amendment says that “documents containing information on the destination of travelers … should preferably be produced in digital form, with paper as the remaining option” and suggests that this will be used for contact tracing.” And on and on this totalitarian BS goes…….

https://epoha.com.hr/2023/03/02/the-world-health-organization-openly-advocates-permanent-global-passports-for-vaccines/

Last edited 2 years ago by Mogwai
95
-2
Dr G
Dr G
2 years ago
Reply to  Mogwai

I expect there will be net zero consequences for Hancock or anyone else who behaved criminally around the world.
I agree that the response will be to hand sovereignty to the WHO, then in the next “pandemic” co-opt the world’s police and armed forces to enforce even harshest restrictions and mandates whilst the leaders of sovereign countries will be able to abrogate all responsibility.
And 90% of the population will huddle around their TV’s, watching MSM, and applauding it all.

75
-1
Steven Robinson
Steven Robinson
2 years ago
Reply to  Dr G

Toby Young himself speaks of ‘the next pandemic’ and plays down suggestions that there is any central coordination – singing from the same hymn sheet as the WHO, it seems to me.

Last edited 2 years ago by Steven Robinson
40
-8
Jane G
Jane G
2 years ago
Reply to  Steven Robinson

It’s as plain as the nose on your face that there will be another ‘pandemic’ in the not-too-distant future: Gates et al have been flagging it up for months and we know the safe-and-effective brew will be bubbling away in a vat somewhere, ready to be rolled out when the cheque has cleared.

The difference this time is we are now wise to it and they will need to adjust their MO as even the dimmest of us will get a sense of deja vu.

I don’t quite share the cynicism about the Telegraph’s revelations as others here. You can’t expect a total return to 2019 overnight but I hope this Oakeshott release will be a significant step in the right direction.
We still need to fight things like the WHO treaty but I think they will have a harder job pushing lockdown-type crap after this.

58
-1
BurlingtonBertie
BurlingtonBertie
2 years ago
Reply to  Jane G

She’s partner of Richard Tice Reform Party leader, who is nothing more than controlled opposition, as he has been spouting a variation of government diktat nonsense. We have no democracy, merely an illusion of it.
Oakeshott has tweeted that the Midazolam & NHS protocols killing folk is conspiracy theory. It’s a cover-up on many levels.

6
0
Nicholas Britton
Nicholas Britton
2 years ago

Hancock being confronted with his actions as health secretary by a member of the public …

https://youtu.be/vlf8JxleKJ8

As others have said, people like hancock will probably never again have the freedom to appear in public without someone reminding them of their evil behaviour.

46
-2
jeepybee
jeepybee
2 years ago
Reply to  Nicholas Britton

If they remind him with handfuls of shit that would be best. Followed by a short shank to the kidneys. Ancient Rome style…

29
-2
huxleypiggles
huxleypiggles
2 years ago

Very pleasing to see Bozo dropping himself in it via WhatsApp.

Superb!

27
0
A Y M
A Y M
2 years ago

Nothing about the treatment and censorship of all the anti lockdown protests that we attended?

Kettled, attacked, gaslit and intimidated. That came from the top.

56
0
Jane G
Jane G
2 years ago
Reply to  A Y M

And sadly, many were only too keen to comply.

Gits.

36
0
VAX FREE IanC
VAX FREE IanC
2 years ago
Reply to  Jane G

Yes and happy clappers, pan banging their sheepy faces off to save the NHS every Thursday evening. I couldn’t believe my eyes or ears even then.

21
0
john ball
john ball
2 years ago
Reply to  A Y M

The intimidation is still going on with 2 of the 4 defendants being convicted at the recent 2 week trial (verdict on 31 January) of causing violent public disorder when fairly mildy opposing the initial police attack on those peacefully still gathered in Hyde Park at the end of the massive 24 April 2021 March. Sentencing is due to take place at Southwark Crown Court on 17 March.

2
0
Alvedans
Alvedans
2 years ago

I have tears of rage as I read those two last exchanges….married friends of mine were separated for the best part of a year because of Zambia being on the red list. They couldn’t afford the quarantine hotel and the only other option left to be back together was a £10,000 fine. Hilarious? Superb? NO……HOW DARE THEY!

20
0
Bella Donna
Bella Donna
2 years ago

I did not think I could ever feel such hatred and disgust for our government and civil service. I will never trust them again.

26
0
DomH75
DomH75
2 years ago

I think in the West we’ve always known there was corruption and stupidity, but that it was on a ‘safe’ level compared with the sort of ‘banana republics’ we’d read about elsewhere. Now, we realise our large population and ‘sophisticated’ urbanised environment has bred something different but just as evil and repressive.

There needs to be an overhaul of government, policing and the civic state, up to an including the expulsion of large numbers of life peers, the forced abolition of current political parties and the closure and replacement of the constabularies. Some things can’t be reformed – the NHS and BBC, for example – and have to be abolished.

The real World War III is happening now: it’s the governments and supranational governmental organisations who have declared war against the people of the world.

Hancock will foot the blame, but they would have found someone else just as stupid, duplicitous and evil to destroy out country.

And to be clear, England has been destroyed: this isn’t the country I grew up in. Until the state surveillance apparatus created over the last couple of decades is dismantled, CBDC plans binned and guarantees put in place to ensure the sort of state overreach we’ve seen since the 1990s can never happen again, this is a parody of our country. And the citizens of the other three states – particularly Scotland – need to take a good hard look at what they’ve allowed devolution to become.

12
0
Dinger64
Dinger64
2 years ago

I wish someone would get ‘heavy handed’ with Matt Hancock 🤣

Last edited 2 years ago by Dinger64
4
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