Two friends slapped with £200 Covid lockdown fines for ‘unnecessary’ trip to the park
TWO friends were slapped with £200 Covid lockdown fines for an “unnecessary” trip to the park. The pair were fined a total of £400 for breaching coronavirus regulations yesterday on their visit to Bede Park in Leicester. Police officers spoke to the two people at the park at about 6.30pm – and fined them after […]
TWO friends were slapped with £200 Covid lockdown fines for an “unnecessary” trip to the park.
The pair were fined a total of £400 for breaching coronavirus regulations yesterday on their visit to Bede Park in Leicester.
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Police officers spoke to the two people at the park at about 6.30pm – and fined them after they admitted their journey was “unnecessary.”
Officers stopped and spoke to more than ten people at Bede Park – but those two were the only people fined.
A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: “On Thursday 28 January officers carried out routine patrols in Bede Park, Leicester.
“More than 10 people were spoken to regarding Covid-19 regulations and they were engaging and understanding with officers.
“At around 6.30pm, two people were spoken to and admitted their journey had been unnecessary.
“Two £200 fixed penalty notices were issued.”
Earlier this week, two men involved in organising a massive snowball fight were given £10,000 fines for a “blatant breach” of coronavirus lockdown rules.
Dozens of people were seen throwing snowballs at each other as crowds of people flocked to Hyde Park in Leeds on January 14.
An unnamed 20-year-old and 23-year-old were slapped with the heavy fines after being quizzed by cops probing the gathering.
What are the lockdown exercise rules?
You are allowed to leave your home for exercise, but this must be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
You can exercise in a public outdoor place:
- by yourself
- with the people you live with
- with your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one)
- in a childcare bubble where providing childcare
- or, when on your own, with 1 person from another household
Under coronavirus legislation, a gathering of more than 30 people is illegal and carries a maximum £10,000 fine.
Current rules state you can leave your home to exercise by yourself, with your household or on your own with one other person.
This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
Meanwhile, two girls Jessica Allen and Eliza Moore were “surrounded by cops” and were slapped with £200 fines each for driving five miles to go for a walk in the park.
But their penalties were later revoked.
The pair said they were read their rights when they arrived at Foremark Reservoir in Derbyshire, just five miles from Ms Allen’s home in Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
The police force involved, Derbyshire Police, originally said driving for exercise was “not in the spirit” of lockdown.
Police have since withdrawn the £200 fine and are “apologising for any concern caused”.
Local MP Andrew Bridgen says he’s “delighted” for his constituents after an apology from heavy handed cops.
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In Forest Row, East Sussex earlier this week, a man was arrested by cops for handing out free soup in a park.
Cops attempted to fine Mr Smith £200 for flouting Covid rules but he would not give over his details – resulting in his arrest.
