Enforced site closures ‘not legitimate’

The Construction Equipment Association (CEA), a trade body representing the UK’s construction equipment industry, has been informed that British police officers have been visiting construction sites across the country, requesting they cease their activities.

The organisation stressed to its members that this action is not consistent with current government advice.

In a bulletin, it said the clear guidance is “that construction sites should continue to operate if they can do so in a manner consistent with PHE [Public Health England] guidance, recognising that the vast majority of construction work cannot be undertaken from home.”

The organisation went on to say, “We are working with the IPA [Infrastructure and Projects Authority] and the Home Office to ensure that accurate information is provided to the police, to prevent this from happening in future.

“The police, like every public service, are working exceptionally hard in very difficult circumstances, and the confusion surrounding site operations is a much wider problem, and not their fault.”