Force issues £57k worth of fines to rule breakers

POLICE in Leicestershire issued 142 fines to the value of £57,800 to people breaking Covid-19 rules in just one weekend.

Thirty-seven of the fines related to a “car cruise” event in Castle Donington where many of the motorists had travelled from outside of Leicestershire to attend.

In a separate incident, a man from Coalville was fined after he said he did not believe in the pandemic and so he felt it fine for his brother to visit him from Manchester, the force said.

The owner of a nail bar was also fined after police found he was still taking customers. Two women who were waiting to have their nails done were also spoken to.

A couple from Huddersfield were fined when they were stopped in their vehicle. Their excuse for being in Leicestershire was that they were visiting a cousin on January 8.

Police were called to a private address in Stretton, Leicestershire, on January 8 where six men were claiming to be having a business meeting over beer and food. All were from different households and none were bubbled together.

Officers attended an address in the county where a birthday party attended by around 11 people from different households had taken place on January 10. The household was fined.

On Friday, the leaders of Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland councils held a press conference where they gave the clear message urging residents to stay at home as much as possible and to follow the Covid lockdown rules.

A police spokesman said officers wanted to stress that it was important that unless people had a permitted excuse, they should stay as near to home as possible.

Assistant Chief Constable Kerry Smith said: “Over the weekend we dealt with a number of incidents where people had no excuse for their behaviour. Some of the reasons for being outside were ridiculous and this is what officers are having to deal with. We cannot be clearer about how this is the only way to stop the spread of the virus. Stay at home, protect the NHS.

“There really is no excuse for people to be taking these risks.”