Fines of £800 have been handed out for the first time in Nottinghamshire to 21 people who ignored Covid laws to attend a student party.
The tougher fines were handed out just hours after they were introduced nationally for anyone attending a party of more than 15 people.
A DJ set-up was in place in a communal area of the flats in Castle Boulevard, near The Park, which patrolling officers discovered at around 1.15am yesterday (Saturday 30 January) after hearing loud music. Officers also found lots of empty alcohol containers and nitrous oxide canisters.
Superintendent Ted Antill, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “The vast majority of people in Nottinghamshire who have been making great sacrifices to follow the national lockdown legislation will be rightly appalled at the behaviour of this minority of people who are carrying on regardless.
“The lockdown legislation doesn’t allow mixing indoors with people you don’t live with or have a support bubble with, so for 21 people to gather is blatantly flouting the law and there is no excuse for it.
“Covid-19 thrives where there is social contact and while the NHS continues to be under such pressure, large gatherings continue to pose a significant risk to public health.
“This is exactly why the government has had to take the step of introducing tougher new fines of £800. These fines will also double for each repeat offence to a maximum of £6,400.
“I hope this will make people think twice before they behave in a way that so obviously breaches the current restrictions.”
