Durham Constabulary concludes Dominic Cummings castle visit 'warranted police intervention'
An investigation by Durham Constabulary has concluded that Dominic Cummings was likely to have been in breach lockdown rules when he made a 50-mile journey to Barnard Castle.
The Prime Minister’s most senior aide claimed he made the trip on Easter Sunday, with his wife and four-year-old son, to check he was fit to drive after suffering coronavirus-related eyesight problems.
Mr Cummings has insisted that he acted “lawfully and reasonably at all times” when he made the 260-mile journey from London to Durham to self-isolate at his parents’ farm at the end of March.
A statement issued by the force said: ““On March 27, 2020, Dominic Cummings drove to Durham to self-isolate in a property owned by his father.
“Durham Constabulary does not consider that by locating himself at his father’s premises, Mr Cummings committed an offence contrary to regulation 6 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020. (We are concerned here with breaches of the Regulations, not the general Government guidance to ‘stay at home’.)
“On April 12, 2020, Mr Cummings drove approximately 26 miles from his father’s property to Barnard Castle with his wife and son. He stated on May 25, 2020, that the purpose of this drive was to test his resilience to drive to London the following day, including whether his eyesight was sufficiently recovered, his period of self-isolation having ended.
“Durham Constabulary have examined the circumstances surrounding the journey to Barnard Castle (including ANPR, witness evidence and a review of Mr Cummings’ press conference on May 25, 2020) and have concluded that there might have been a minor breach of the regulations that would have warranted police intervention. Durham Constabulary view this as minor because there was no apparent breach of social distancing.”
However, the force said it would not be taking any further action against Mr Cummings.
