British police will get tougher on those who flout rules aimed at stopping the spread of Covid-19 and stricter measures could be brought in, the country's top officer and the minister responsible for policing said.

The capital's police chief Cressida Dick, the country's most senior officer, said officers would take tougher action to enforce lockdown rules amid concern that some people were continuing to ignore measures to limit social mixing, according to Reuters.

“It is preposterous to me that anyone could be unaware of our duty to do all we can to stop the spread of the virus,” Dick wrote in the Times newspaper. “We have been clear that those who breach Covid-19 legislation are increasingly likely to face fines.”

Policing minister Kit Malthouse said the government could consider bringing in even stricter rules if the numbers relating to infections and hospitalisations showed action was necessary.