HOME HAIR AND BEAUTY TREATMENTS RISK FINES

WARNING OVER

BUSINESSES THAT OFFER TREATMENTS TO PEOPLE AT HOME DURING LOCKDOWN

A WARNING has been issued to beauty businesses offering treatments to people in their homes during the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.

Already one business has been handed a £1,000 fine for illicit appointments with customers in Leicester.

The city council has revealed it is investigating 13 separate reports of individuals flouting Covid-19 restrictions by making illegal house visits.

Officials are reminding offenders that they face “fines, prosecution and possible police action” following a recent spike in incidents as some other Covid-19 restrictions start to ease.

The local authority’s public safety team is also telling customers that they too can be fined up to £1,000 for arranging and accepting such visits, which risk the further spread of the potentially deadly virus.

A council spokesman said five businesses had received formal warning letters, and one issued with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice for breaking the law.

He said: “Officers from our public safety team are investigating 13 separate reports of beauty businesses providing treatment at home, which is against the law under current lockdown measures.

“So far, five businesses have been given formal warning letters, with one issued a £1,000 fixed penalty notice.

“Two more beauty businesses have been fined by police.”

The city council’s regulatory services team has made more than 2,500 visits to businesses across the city in the last year - with 439 follow-up visits arranged to ensure the firms are complying with the relevant Covid regulations.

“While the vast majority of businesses act responsibly, five fixed penalty notices have been issued, including two to pubs, one to a gym and three to firms providing beauty treatments,” the spokesman said.

Nicola Preston, the council’s head of regulatory services, said many beauty businesses appeared to be trying to get around shop closures by offering services to people in their homes.

“While it is reasonably easy for our officers to establish whether premises which should be closed are admitting customers, it is much more difficult to spot those illegally offering treatments in customers’ own homes,” she said.

“While it might be tempting to get a beauty treatment at home, it is still against the law under the national lockdown rules, because working so closely with someone else indoors carries a significant infection risk.

“We’re investigating more than a dozen reports of beauty services being offered at home. Some have been given formal warnings, and one has been fined £1,000.

“Customers can be fined £1,000 for breaching Covid-19 regulations, as well as the person carrying out the treatment.

“It just isn’t worth it – lockdown restrictions are being eased across the UK over the coming months, meaning people will be able to visit their usual salon lawfully no earlier than April 12.

“We all want to return to normal life, but it is vital that people continue to observe the current restrictions in the meantime.”

Beauty businesses, including those operating from home, are also being reminded that once the restrictions are eased, they will still have to follow Government guidance to keep themselves, their employees and customers safe.

■ To report a local breach of the national lockdown restrictions, email: