Fines Totalling £64,000 Issued During Lockdown

Leicestershire Police issued over 123 fines for breaches of Covid-19 rules during the second lockdown.

Four of the maximum £10,000 fines were issued after house parties took place in Leicester and Hinckley.

Some of the lesser fixed penalty notices were issued in the Harborough District, mainly to people from different households gathering in groups who refused to take advice from officers.

The fines issued across the county in the four weeks totalled £64,000.

Assistant Chief Constable Julia Debenham said: “Our officers and staff have been continuing to work hard to keep people safe in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and I would like to thank everyone who has continued to work with us, adhering to Government guidelines and keeping yourselves and others safe.

“The city and Leicestershire are now in Tier Three of the Government’s  guidelines and we have entered it with hope as an approved vaccine has been announced. We have to be patient now and keep sticking to the rules. We are still coming across people who blatantly do disregard the rules, not caring who they might harm in the process. It is vital we listen and comply with the advice and regulations given to us to keep people and their livelihoods safe in this next phase of this pandemic.

“I am also particularly saddened to see that two more officers have been assaulted by people spitting in their faces or coughing. This will not be tolerated and there will be consequences for anyone who does this.

“All the police can ask the public to do is to follow rules that have been put in place for their own safety and the safety of their families. Please be patient as we move towards Christmas and continue to take part in protecting our communities.”