Ex-Durham police chief blasts Dominic Cummings and his Government defenders over lockdown journey to county

Dominic Cummings "broke the rules" by travelling 260 miles to stay near his family in Durham during lockdown, the area's former police chief has said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's senior aid Dominic Cummings leaves his north London home, as lockdown questions continue to bombard the Government with the Prime Minister facing pressure to sack his closest aide after it emerged that he travelled to his parents' home despite coronavirus-related restrictions. Picture by Aaron Chown/PA WirePrime Minister Boris Johnson's senior aid Dominic Cummings leaves his north London home, as lockdown questions continue to bombard the Government with the Prime Minister facing pressure to sack his closest aide after it emerged that he travelled to his parents' home despite coronavirus-related restrictions. Picture by Aaron Chown/PA Wire
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's senior aid Dominic Cummings leaves his north London home, as lockdown questions continue to bombard the Government with the Prime Minister facing pressure to sack his closest aide after it emerged that he travelled to his parents' home despite coronavirus-related restrictions. Picture by Aaron Chown/PA Wire

Ex-Chief Constable Mike Barton has criticised Mr Cumming's for "trying to evade" his responsibilities.

Mr Barton also criticised the Government for Minister’s arguments defending the Prime Minister's chief aide.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
File picture of Mike Barton while he was serving as Durham Constabulary chief constableFile picture of Mike Barton while he was serving as Durham Constabulary chief constable
File picture of Mike Barton while he was serving as Durham Constabulary chief constable

It comes after Durham Constabulary said police officers did speak to Mr Cummings' father despite Downing Street denials there was any contact with his family over his alleged lockdown breaches.

No 10 had said on Saturday morning: "At no stage was he [Mr Cummings] or his family spoken to about this matter, as is being reported."

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also reiterated the Government statement was "black and white" at the daily Downing Street briefing later in the day.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Speaking to BBC News on Sunday, Mr Barton said: "Millions of people over the last two months have made great sacrifices, sacrifices looking after their family in really frustrating circumstances, businesses have gone bust, people who run businesses haven't been able to do certain things.

"And that's why I was really quite surprised to learn that somebody who has made the rules that are very clear that if you're suffering from coronavirus, you have to stay at home, you're in lockdown, you do not leave your home under any circumstances.

"Not only did they do that and travel 260 miles, but also have then tried to justify it and evade their responsibility through the use of weasel words. I find it quite shocking really."

Mr Barton went on to say he was "angry" and "worried" that Durham Constabulary had been embroiled in a dispute with No 10, praising the force for its handling of the situation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added: "Let's not beat about the bush, he broke the rules, it's very clear. Now what they're trying to do is use this sophisticated sophistry to suggest that if you've got a child then the rules don't quite apply - that's rubbish.

"The area that they're going to, which mentions children, does not allow you to do what they did.

"The deputy chief medical officer, who's been a beacon of wisdom for me in all of this, made it really clear, it's got to be a life-threatening issue that allows you to break the coronavirus lockdown.

"This was not life-threatening, so let's not beat about the bush, I'm making it really clear, 40 years of policing, understanding the law, interpreting the law, the reasonable excuse is not to do what they did."

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you