Why haven’t the people fined over partygate been identified?
Partygate detectives have confirmed that the first batch of fines for alleged Covid breaches will be issued but questions remain over whether the individuals involved will be identified.
Why haven’t the recipients of partygate fines been named by police?
Police have confirmed that 20 fines are expected to be issued over gatherings held during lockdown in government buildings, but will not identify the individuals concerned.
While it is usual practice for forces to identify someone facing a criminal charge, this is not the case with lesser offences dealt with via on-the-spot fines, such as Covid breaches or speeding offences.
How have other alleged lockdown breaches been publicised by the force?
Several other cases involving large gatherings have been publicised by the Met Police, including dates, times and road names and the area where they were said to have taken place.
However, with partygate the force has chosen not to specify which gatherings the fines relate to, in order to avoid the risk of identifying individuals.
Will any of the names be made public?
Downing Street has said it will confirm if the Prime Minister receives a fine but will not reveal the names of more junior members of staff.
However, their identities would become public if they decided to contest the fine.
What rules were in place at the time?
The laws changed several times during the coronavirus pandemic when there were allegations of parties taking place.
At the time of the May 20 2020 Downing Street garden party, which the Prime Minister admitted attending but insisted he thought was a work event which could“technically” have been within the rules, the law in England required people to have a reasonable excuse to leave their home and people could only meet one other person from outside their own household at a time in a public space or for exercise.
By june 192020, when a birthday party for Boris Johnson is said to have taken place and D owning street, groups of up to six people were allowed to meet outdoors but indoor gatherings remained against the law.