Wedding venue owner faces £10k fine after more than 100 attend reception
THE owner of a west London wedding venue is facing the possibility of a £10,000 fine after a reception was attended by more than 100 people.
Officers from London Metropolitan Police were called to shut down the event at the Tudor Rose, in Southall, on Tuesday October 13.
There, they found a large number of people in breach of coronavirus regulations.
Bodyworn footage from the Met showed crowds of guests who were not social distancing or taking other steps to prevent transmission of the virus.
Under current guidance, the number of guests allowed at weddings is limited to 15 people – and venues must adhere to
Covid-secure guidelines. The crowds were dispersed by officers to ensure guest numbers complied with the law.
Senior officers reported the owner of the venue for consideration of a £10,000 fixed penalty notice for the clear breach of regulations.
Area Commander Chief Superintendent Peter Gardner said: “This was a dangerous and foolish breach of the regulations, which have been designed specifically to keep people safe from transmitting a deadly virus.
“Restrictions on large gatherings, such as weddings, have been in place for months and quite frankly there can be no excuse for this flagrant and arrogant violation of the law.
“There was clearly no attempt by the venue owner to enforce the regulations or keep their patrons safe – it is for this reason we have reported them for a £10,000 fine.”
It comes after announcements that alert levels in the capital increased from medium to high from midnight on Friday.
“Everyone has a responsibility to keep themselves, and their families, safe from coronavirus,” said Mr Gardner.
“As cases of coronavirus rise across London, officers throughout the Met will be redoubling our efforts to clamp down on those individuals and businesses who breach the regulations and put themselves, and others, at risk.”