Venues that do not check for vaccine passports face fines

BUSINESSES that fail to check for vaccine passports will face fines of up to £4,000 under new Plan B regulations to combat the omicron variant.

Nightclubs, dancehalls, discos and indoor unseated venues with more than 500 people will from next Wednesday be required to enforce checks for vaccine passes or negative lateral flow tests for anyone entering them.

Unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people and any venue with more than 10,000 such as football grounds will also have to introduce the new rules for visitors and fans.

The regulations will warn that businesses will be fined an initial £1,000 if they fail to enforce the checks and someone attending their venue enters without having their status confirmed.

This halves if paid within 14 days but, as with other Covid fines, doubles for a second offence to £2,000 and £4,000 for a third offence, up to a potential maximum of £10,000.

Tory MPS branded the use of vaccine passes “draconian” and a “massive attack” on personal freedom, while industry chiefs warned it would be a body blow to businesses by hitting them at the critical three-week Christmas and new year period.

Takings by Scottish venues including nightclubs fell by 30 to 40 per cent when passports were introduced in October.

Hospitality chiefs branded it an “unmitigated disaster” as venue staff refused entry to revellers without passes 550 times, queues built up and door staff were abused.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said the timing in the run-up to Christmas was “horrendous” with venues already facing cancellations because of the uncertainty.

He questioned why the Government needed to introduce passes when they were no guarantee of being virus-free and many venues were already operating schemes where those attending had to show negative lateral flow tests.

“Many of the bigger venues have been using lateral flow tests and the addition of a passport deters people. It takes people longer to get into the venue and to download,” Mr Kill said.