Lockdown Rules Still in Force as Final Week Approaches
Don’t get ahead of yourself! The current lockdown rules are still in place as we gear up for what could be the last week of the Stay at Home order. Monday, March 29, is pencilled in as the start of the Government’s next phase in the roadmap out of lockdown.
But hold your horses—no one should break the rules before the Prime Minister officially announces changes. Wiltshire Police are cracking down hard and the fines prove it.
Wiltshire Police Crack Down on Rule-Breakers
- 41 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued between March 15-21
- Total FPNs now stand at 821, including retrospective fines
- 9 formal warnings handed out for rule breaches
- 282 public reports logged via phone and online
- 8 Covid-related crimes and 24 incidents recorded
Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills said the recent spike in fines is mostly due to a few indoor gatherings. He warned:
“I know the temptation to socialise ramps up as the Prime Minister’s review date nears. But we must be patient and stick to the current laws if we want to keep infection rates down.”
Illegal Parties and Road Trips Hit by Big Fines
Last weekend saw some hefty penalties handed out. At 11.30pm on Saturday, officers stopped a car on Downton Road, Salisbury. Inside were six people – five women aged 26 to 51 and a 31-year-old male driver. The group had just made a round trip to Bournemouth to celebrate an upcoming wedding.
All six were slapped with £200 fines. The driver also faces traffic offence charges. Not to be outdone, cops crashed a house party in Albion Street, Swindon, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Five men and three women in their 20s were all hit with £200 fines for breaking Covid rules.
Commissioner Warns: Don’t Think You’re Above the Law
Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson slammed rule-breakers, saying:
“It’s disappointing to see people acting like the rules don’t apply to them. We might be looking ahead to easing restrictions, but the current rules are still very much in force. We all need to take personal responsibility to keep infection rates down.”
For the latest on lockdown rules and Government updates, visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
