MPs will not get a vote on 10-year prison terms for Brits who lie about returning from high risk destinations.
Travellers who try to evade strict new quarantine rules by failing to declare they have visited a “red list” country will be charged under the Forgery Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
From Monday, anyone returning to England from 33 high risk countries will have to spend 10 days in quarantine in a Government-designated hotel – at a cost of £1,750.
The so-called red list, which includes Portugal, South Africa and most of South America, covers countries where new variants are causing concern.
Downing Street said travellers who try to dodge quarantine rules could receive 10-year jail sentences under existing legislation so MPs will not need to vote on the plans.
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The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “If people failed to abide by the rules and inaccurately or purposefully didn’t fill in the relevant documentation properly they would be charged under the Forgery Act which includes forging or lying on forms.”
Asked if there would be a Commons vote, the spokesman said: “We’re using existing legislation under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 so there’s no requirement for a vote.”
The Government is facing a backlash over the plans, which impose a harsher sentence on travel ban cheats than for some violent crimes and sex offences.
Crimes which carry jail sentences of up to 10 years include sexual assault, cruelty to a child, some burglary offences, public order offences like rioting, making threats to kill and in some cases for possessing a firearm.
Former Supreme Court justice Lord Sumption told the Telegraph: “Does (Matt) Hancock really think that non-disclosure of a visit to Portugal is worse than the large number of violent firearms offences or sexual offences involving minors, for which the maximum is seven years?”
Ex-Tory Attorney General Dominic Grieve said the “draconian” jail terms were a “mistake” – and would never be used by the courts.
“The reality is that nobody would get such a sentence anyway, the courts are simply not going to impose it,” he told the BBC.
“My view is that good government is about proportionality and sounding off in this way with suggestions of draconian and completely disproportionate sentences for an offence is a mistake.”
The Forgery Act covers a string of crimes such as copying and using falsified documents and papers.
