'In Conversation' Frances Murray

Today's 'In Conversation' is with Frances Murray, Associate, Rosenblatt Financial Crime Department

“In these challenging times we have all had to quickly adjust to a restriction on our everyday movement, from travel to something as simple and taken for granted as a supermarket shop.”

A resonating statement made by Frances Murray as we open our ‘In Conversation’ today about the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020.

Frances Murray is an Associate of the Rosenblatt Financial Crime department and specialises in Corporate Crime and Investigations, representing individuals to PLCs from the investigatory stage to Crown Court proceedings.

I reached out to Frances as I was curious about the legal ramifications for everyday people who may be confused and do not abide by the Health Protection Regulations here in England. I feel as though I am held at the mercy of various media platforms to receive advice. It seems I am not the only one who is confused, Frances shares her myth busting advice for us below:

“With emergency legislation in place and a very wide remit for interpretation even law enforcement agencies have struggled to apply the reality of the regulations.

Having to quickly become an expert in the mechanics of these regulations with the added complexity that England, Scotland and Wales all have their own regulations, I am now well versed on the restriction of movement and whether all we read is in fact regulation or a fiction of the media.

Fact or fiction?

Following an extension of the lock down period on 16th April for another 3 weeks the regulations on the restriction of movement remain unchanged.

However, helpfully the National Police Chiefs’ Council published updated guidance to clarify “what constitutes a reasonable excuse to leave the place where you live”. The following are examples of what is “likely to be reasonable” although the list of reasonable excuses is not exhaustive:

Necessities:

Buying several days’ worth of food, including luxury items and alcohol

Buying tools and supplies to repair a fence panel damaged in recent bad weather (the regulations specify maintenance and upkeep. This does not extend to renovation and improvements).

Exercise:

Driving to the countryside and walking (where far more time is spent walking than driving).

Stopping to rest or to eat lunch while on a long walk.

Exercising more than once per day the only relevant consideration is whether repeated exercise on the same day can be considered a “reasonable excuse” for leaving home.

Work:

A non-key worker or non-essential key worker travelling to work where it is not reasonably possible to work from home (there is no requirement to be a key worker or essential worker in order to travel to work).

Other reasons:

Taking an animal for treatment

Moving to a friend’s address for several days to allow a “cooling-off” following arguments at home.”

Thank you to Frances for providing clarification on what is deemed necessary, if you find yourself in a pickle through these uncertain times and need someone reliable in our court before you head off to court, I would suggest you reach out to Frances.

Frances Murray, Associate

Email: [email protected]

Mobile Number: +44 (0)73 8491 7915