Downing St is the most fined address for Covid breaches
New partygate penalties handed out to government staff means No10 has more FPNS than illegal rave venues
‘The Prime Minister has on a number of occasions apologised and made clear that there were things we simply did not get right’
DOWNING STREET has become the address with the most lockdown breaches in Britain after Scotland Yard issued another batch of partygate fines taking the total to more than 100.
The Met confirmed above 50 new Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNS) had been handed out in recent weeks, but the investigation is far from complete.
Boris Johnson and his wife, Carrie, were not recipients in this wave of fines, according to No10.
But Downing Street has now earned the unenviable title of being the most fined address in the country when it comes to Covid, receiving more FPNS than some of the venues that hosted large illegal raves during lockdown.
In January 2021, police handed out 78 fines to attendees of an illegal rave that was held under railway arches in Hackney, east London. More than 300 people had crammed into the makeshift venue and police were forced to deploy a helicopter and dogs to disperse party goers.
The following month, 70 people were given FPNS for attending two house parties held in the same street in Mayfair, west London.
However, it is thought no other venue in the country has seen as many fines issued as Downing Street.
Confirming the latest update, which was delayed until after the May local elections, a Scotland Yard spokesman said: “As of Thursday May 12, Operation Hillman, the investigation into breaches of Covid-19 regulations in Whitehall and Downing Street, has made more than 100 referrals for fixed penalty notices to the ACRO Criminal Records Office.
“These referrals have continued to be made throughout the period since our last update on Tuesday April 12 and the investigation remains live.”
The Met refused to confirm which events the latest fines covered, but it is understood a large number were given to attendees of a Christmas cheese and wine party held in Downing Street.
No 10 staff had drinks and even held a secret Santa at the event on Dec 18 2020.
The Prime Minister was not present at the gathering, but when a video emerged showing officials joking about it, Allegra Stratton, his former press secretary, was forced to resign.
It is also thought fines have been issued to some attendees of the garden party at No10 in May 2020.
An email sent by Martin Reynolds, Mr Johnson’s principal private secretary at the time, told people to “bring your own booze” in a period when all social gatherings were banned.
The email read: “Hi all. After what has been an incredibly busy period it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially-distanced drinks in the No10 garden this evening. Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze!”
Mr and Mrs Johnson attended the garden party briefly, but have not received a fine in connection with the event. Last month, it was confirmed the couple had both been handed a £50 FPN for attending a party for Mr Johnson’s 56th birthday on June 19 2020.
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, was among those at the gathering. He received, accepted and paid an FPN.
Scotland Yard detectives are investigating 12 events that took place in Downing Street and Whitehall on eight separate dates between May 2020 and April 2021.
Fines have so far been issued to attendees of a raucous karaoke party in June 2020, which included Helen Macnamara, who was Whitehall’s head of ethics at the time.
A leaving party for Kate Josephs, the government official who was in charge of writing the Covid laws, is another event for which fines have been given.
Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, has not received a fine, despite reportedly attending some of the events being investigated by Scotland Yard.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “With regards to the Cabinet Secretary and the Prime Minister, I don’t have any update ... the position [is] we will update you if that were to change.”
He added: “You’ll know that the Prime Minister has on a number of occasions apologised and made clear that there were things we simply did not get right, and that he is sorry for how this matter has been handled.
“Obviously that remains the case. And like I say, he will have more to say at the conclusion ... and when the Sue Gray report is published.”
Asked about the latest fines in Stokeon-trent yesterday, Mr Johnson said he was “sure we’ll have plenty to say about that when the thing’s finished”.