Avon and Somerset Police highlight recent COVID breaches
In the past week officers have been forced to break up two house parties and a pub lock-in
Several house parties and a pub lock-in have been broken up by the police in recent days across Avon and Somerset.
In a statement the police say incidents they have attended include a lock-in at The Waggon pub in Taunton on the evening of Tuesday 20 April.
Seven fines were handed out after several people were spotted drinking and dancing inside.
Last Friday night (23/04) a house party was broken up in Redland in Bristol and six people were fined.
All of them in their 20's were charged £800 for arranging a gathering of more than 15 people, officers say many of them tried to hide when the police first arrived.
That same evening eight people at another house party were fined £200.
That one took place on St Pauls Road in Bristol.
Inspector Ruth Gawler said: “The vast majority of people have played their part by adhering to the lockdown rules at the start of the year and we’re thankful they are continuing to comply with the restrictions and advice currently in place.
“However, there is a small minority of people who are selfishly choosing to break the rules that are designed to help save lives.
“Our approach to dealing with such incidents remains the same – we will engage with the public, explain the rules and encourage them to comply.
"But enforcement through fines remains an option, especially for those responsible for the blatant and deliberate breaches we’ve been called out to deal with in recent days.
“We fully understand everyone is delighted by the easing of restrictions, but we continue to urge people to be cautious and follow the rules to limit the spread of COVID, which has already claimed thousands of lives across the country.”
Since the start of the pandemic in March last year around 55,000 coronavirus breaches have been reported to Avon and Somerset Police.
In that time 2,193 fines have been handed out.