Fines Issued After Police Break-Up Brighton House Party

Wednesday, 30 December 2020 16:25

By Charlotte Baker @Ch4rtweets

Shortly after midnight on Wednesday (December 30), police attended a report of a house party in Brighton and issued a number of fines for breaching coronavirus rules.

Police said eleven Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were issued to people found gathering at an address in Stanford Avenue.

Officers were initially refused entry by the occupants and three FPNs were issued.

After a further call reporting more people at the address, eight more fixed penalty notices were issued, including to those who had already been given tickets and returned, and the group was dispersed.

Chief Superintendent Julia Pope said:

"This is a clear example of Sussex Police taking robust action against those flagrantly flouting restrictions and putting others at risk.

"This group of individuals came from various parts of London and showed no regard for the rules by coming to Brighton to socialise during this public health crisis.

"We're hugely grateful to the vast majority of people who continue to do the right thing by adhering to the Tier 4 regulations to keep themselves and others safe.

"We need to protect our NHS to prevent hospitals reaching full capacity, please help us by doing the right thing."

Sussex Police has urged local communities to continue to follow the Tier 4 regulations on New Year's Eve.

Police will be taking enforcement action where necessary if these are blatantly breached.

Ch Supt Pope added:

"Your decisions and the actions you take now could help save lives.

"We are at an absolutely crucial stage in the pandemic where Sussex has been moved into the highest level of restrictions due to a new strain of the virus.

"Please stick to the rules; stay in, keep celebrations small, don’t invite people round for a party, or attend gatherings of more than two people from different households outside.

"Where there are blatant breaches and reckless flouting of these regulations then we will intervene, we will be robust and we will take enforcement action.

"Please continue to work with us and help save lives - and hopefully next year things will be better."