UK: Councils can bulldoze contaminated homes and crush cars as a last resort, under new laws to stop second wave of coronavirus
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8593993/Councils-BULLDOZE-contaminated-homes-resort-stop-second-wave-coronavirus.html
Councils and public health officials have the power to demolish buildings and even homes infected with coronavirus. As a last resort for preventing the spread of the disease, powers granted to local authorities - with the permission of a magistrate - could see anything from a car to a train destroyed.
The revelation comes as Boris Johnson remains determined to avoid a second nationwide lockdown at all costs, and has chosen to empower councils to properly enforce localised lockdowns.
In the recently published COVID-19 contain framework guide, local decision making related to the disease is placed in the hands of Directors of Public Health, supported by council chief executives. The document makes reference to several pieces of legislation they can call upon, including the Health Protection Regulations 2020, which passed in July, which can force business premises to close and also restrict events.
Among the most powerful laws that councils could take advantage of is the Public Health (Control of Disease Act) 1984, giving the power to destroy buildings.