Nearly 200 fines issued to Covid rule-breakers across Lancashire over five days

Police have responded to reports of people throwing house parties, exercising with a personal trainer, meeting with other households and more over the past five days.
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Officers have confirmed they have issued 198 fixed penalty notices to people who were caught flouting Covid-19 regulations across Lancashire between January 15 and January 20.

Chief Insp Patrick Worden, chair of the Lancashire Resilience Forum’s Enforcement Cell, explained they would rather "explain, encourage and educate, before enforcing as a last resort, but these incidents have all been blatant and deliberate breaches of the regulations."

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He said: "We all want to return to normality as soon as possible, but in order to do that we need to contain the spread of the virus. To do that we all need to do our bit and stick to the legislation and guidance. Behaviour by people such as those mentioned in the incidents above will only prolong the restrictions for all of us."

Some of the examples police provided include a student party in Preston, a personal trainer exercising with clients inside a gym in St Annes which was still operating, and a vehicle full of people from different addresses doing "doughnuts" on Deepdale Retail Park in Preston.

Police said they also caught four people from different addresses inhaling nitrous oxide in a car at The Beacon in Wigan.

When they were asked what they were doing they reportedly told officers they were "just chilling".

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"We hope this round-up sends a message that we will clamp down, where needed, on those flouting the regulations," Chief Insp Patrick Worden added.

Officers issued 198 fixed penalty notices between January 15 and January 20.Officers issued 198 fixed penalty notices between January 15 and January 20.
Officers issued 198 fixed penalty notices between January 15 and January 20.

"If you are a key worker or have a reasonable reason for being out and about, please don’t be offended if we stop you to ask where you are going and why you are out – our officers are just doing their jobs and are working extremely hard to keep everybody safe."

Other examples include:

- A house party in Nelson, with people from several different addresses in attendance

- A group of men watching football together at an address in Ashton-on-Ribble

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- A house party in Colne where the homeowner allegedly told officers she was just "having a disco"

- Ten men playing football together in an area near Tag Lane, Ingol

- Two people from different addresses - one in Preston and one in Blackburn - who were stopped close to Preston docks. They reportedly gave several reasons for being out together before eventually admitting they had met up to get a McDonald’s.

- A man from Blackburn who had driven to Morecambe promenade in the early hours of Monday morning (January 18) without a licence, insurance, or "good reason to be there."

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Anybody with concerns about lockdown breaches can report them online by clicking HERE or by calling 101.

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