One in seven people break lockdown rules, study finds

Around one in seven people may have broken lockdown rules by being visited at home by friends or family, research suggests.

A study by King’s College London (KCL) with Ipsos Mori found that members of the public claimed to be sticking to the now-altered “stay at home” advice to an “extraordinary degree”. But 14 per cent of those surveyed said they have had home visits from friends or relatives during the lockdown - compared with 5 per cent at the start of April.

The researchers interviewed 2,254 people aged between 16 and 75 from May 20-22, and compared some of the findings with a previous survey from April 1-3.

The poll was undertaken after the UK government relaxed its “stay at home” guidance, instead adopting the slogan “stay alert” on May 10.

A couple enjoy the warm weather at Inverleith Park. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Professor Bobby Duffy, director of the Policy Institute at KCL, said the study showed a reasonable proportion of those surveyed have had visits from family and friends while this was not permitted.

“Of all the compliance things that’s the one that stands out,” he said. “Missing family and friends and not being able to see them is a difficult thing for people to cope with”