The UK Armed Forces could be called upon to assist the police to help support efforts to enforce new COVID19 restrictions announced today by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The PM included in his latest speech to parliament that military support would be made available should the police become busy ensuring the general public are following lockdown procedures.

In his address to the House of Commons, Boris Johnson said: “We will provide the police and local authorities with the extra funding they need – a greater presence on our streets and the option to draw military support where required to free up the police.”

The UK armed forces have been heavily involved previously with COVID19 in an array of roles including producing ventilators, administering test kits and the assembly of Nightingale standby hospitals around the UK.