Have you been in a bunker for 12 months? Then there’s no defence

POLICE ADDRESS COVID FINES CRITICISM AFTER WEEKEND OF DEALING WITH BREACHES

A GROUP of youths playing football and three people ‘chillin’ in the car park at Desford Cemetery are among the latest people to receive fines for breaching the coronavirus restrictions.

Market Bosworth Police said in a post on Facebook on the evening of Sunday, February 14, that there had been many reports of breaches over the weekend.

The force said: “The weekend has been filled with many reports of various Covid regulation breaches.

“It’s fair to say that none of us on the team joined this organisation to stop lads playing football or to stop family gatherings.

“But for the time being - these are the rules and this is the law.

“So far this weekend: 15 or so lads playing football in Fenny Drayton, a male going out despite waiting on a Covid test result (and confirming on his open FB account that he has the virus), three lads ‘chillin’ in a car in the Desford Cemetery car park all from separate households.

“All of the above will be paying fines for not playing their part.”

The group also addressed those who say that the police have better things to do than dish out Covid fines.

It said: “For the naysayers who will no doubt be commenting that we aren’t catching murderers or burglars, I say this:

“Thankfully - in this area we have no active murder enquiries and our acquisitive crime rate (theft and burglary) is low because more people are at home. So for now – if you are caught out for breaching Covid you can expect a fine.

“It is not a defence to suggest that you didn’t know or realise.

“That’ll only wash if you can prove that you’ve been in a bunker/desert island for the last 12 months.”

Fines start at £200 if you are caught leaving your home without a reasonable excuse, with the penalty doubling for futher offences up to a maximum of £6,400.

Heavy fines of £10,000 can be handed out to the organisers of illegal gatherings of more than 30 people, like raves or house parties.

If you attend a gathering of more than 15 people, you will be fined £800, which doubles after every offence up to a maximum of £6,400.