Lockdown: New £800 fine for those who attend parties announced

Today Priti Patel announced the introduction of new covid fines for those who breach lockdown rules.

“We’re introducing a new £800 fine for those attending house parties.”

This amount will double for each repeat offence up to a maximum of £6,400. she announced as she fronted a Downing Street press conference. Hosts of illegal parties are already eligible for a £10,000 fine.  

Coronavirus (COVID‑19) is spreading fast.

Do not leave your home unless necessary.

Infections increased by 50% from early December, with 1 in 63 people infected.  1 in 3 people who have the virus have no symptoms, so you could be spreading it without knowing it.  

Just announced:

We’re introducing a new £800 fine for those attending 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.

This will double for each repeat offence up to a maximum of £6,400.

At this crucial time, please stay home.
Protect the NHS. Save lives. pic.twitter.com/Y4zNBhmZAz

— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) January 21, 2021

Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said officers had had to deal with several dangerous parties this week, including one with 150 people in Hertfordshire and another with 40 people in Brick Lane in London’s East End

He said: “When we see people that are putting themselves and others in danger, we will not waste time trying to reason with them.

“They are demonstrating no regard for the safety of others, or even for themselves.”

The current fine for people caught at house parties is £200 – £100 if paid early.

More than 5 million people receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in UK, Second dose (fully vaccinated): 464,036

37,892 people tested positive reported on 21 January 2021,  totalling 3,543,646 in UK

From 18 January