83 fines have been handed out so far this weekend after officers were called to a series of parties and gatherings overnight on Friday and Saturday.
Yesterday the Government announced that England will enter a second national lockdown for four weeks from Thursday, as the spread of the deadly virus escalates.
The weekend’s incidents included a report of students having a party in Arthur Street, the Arboretum, at around 2.30am today (Sunday 1 November) and when officers arrived they found 14 people gathering, including a DJ setup in the basement.
A student party was also reported in Forest Road East, the Arboretum, at around 2am today (Sunday) where officers found 18 people, including some who tried to escape through a window and others who were hiding in the garden.
The other calls-outs this weekend were to gatherings in Colville Street, the Arboretum, Lake Street, the Arboretum, Seely Road, The Park, Queen Street, in the city centre, Wheeler Gate, in the city centre, North Church Street in the city centre, and Johnson Road, Lenton. Officers also gave a formal warning to a woman after they dispersed a group of people who had gathered at a flat and communal room in North Sherwood Street in the city centre last night.
◉ Organiser of Nottingham city student house-party fined £10,000 and 38 guests all fined £200
Chief Constable Craig Guildford, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “It’s quite unbelievable how some people are completely ignoring the fact that people are dying and the NHS is already so stretched with cancer treatment being halted because of the continued spread of Covid-19.
“The only way to get this under control is by everyone in the community sticking to the legislation and taking responsibility.
“Thankfully most people in the community understand the seriousness of the situation and are playing their part. But there always seems to be a few who think their social life is more important than other people’s health.
“Sadly many of the incidents we attended overnight again were student parties. We know that both universities have been trying to help get the message across to students but for some it doesn’t seem to be getting through.”
Chief Constable Guildford added that officers would continue to hand out fines in increasingly focussed efforts to those who disregard the restrictions and he hoped to see universities expel students as a strong deterrent.
“It is only by working together to follow the legislation that we will be able to control the spread of the virus,” he said.
“I would like to thank everyone who is taking their personal responsibility seriously and assure them that we will increasingly take action against those who needlessly put others at risk.”
