Durham Police have received a formal written letter by a police chief to investigate that they “establish the facts concerning any breach of the law or regulations,” if Dominic Cummings did break the law.
Durham’s acting police commissioner, Steve White has asked chief constable Jo Farrell to formally investigate Cummings as he drove 260 miles to Durham eight days after the lockdown was enforced.
White said in a statement, “I am confident that thus far, Durham police has responded proportionately and appropriately to the issues raised concerning Mr Cummings and his visit to the County at the end of March.
“It is clear however that there is a plethora of additional information circulating in the public domain which deserves appropriate examination.
“I have today written to the chief constable, asking her to establish the facts concerning any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter at any juncture.”
Cummings who is the Prime Minister most senior aide travelled 260-miles from his London home, to Durham on 31 March to self-isolate when he and his wife developed coronavirus symptoms.
It has then been alleged that he made a second trip back to Durham in April after already returning from London.
It has further been alleged that a witness claims he saw his at Barnard Castle some 30-miles away on 12 April from his parent’s farm, and again in Durham a week later.
Durham’s acting police commissioner added in a statement on Monday, “It is vital that the force can show it has the interests of the people of County Durham and Darlington at its heart, so that the model of policing by consent, independent of government but answerable to the law, is maintained.
“It will be for the chief constable to determine the operational response to this request and I am confident that with the resources at its disposal, the Force can show proportionality and fairness in what has become a major issue of public interest and trust.”
On Sunday Boris Johnson defended Cummings and said he had acted “responsibly, legally and with integrity” and had “followed the instincts of every father.”
Gloucestershire’s independent police and crime commissioner Martin Surl criticised Cummings as they have “made a mockery” over the lockdown rules.
Surl told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, “I think it makes it much harder for the police going forward, this will be quoted back at them time and time again when they try to enforce the new rules.”
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