Nottinghamshire Police officers issue £10,000 Covid fine after religious gathering  in a car park was held despite warnings

Around 30 people attended a car park for a religious event where tents had been set up, a sound system was in place to play music and food was being served so police issued £10,000 fine as they had already issued warnings for it not to go ahead.
By Lucy Ball
Published 21st Feb 2021, 09:38 GMT
Updated 21st Feb 2021, 09:57 GMT
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The breach of the Covid lockdown rules happened yesterday, Saturday, February 20, in Bulwell and officers had been advising a religious group for a number of weeks around the where and how they can worship during the current lockdown. They had been engaging, explaining and encouraging those attending to follow the current lockdown restrictions that the whole of England and Wales must abide by.

Inspector James Walker, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Over the past few weeks we have been advising this group, having been made aware of events they have held in.

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"Initially, we have been engaging, explaining and encouraging as to the importance of following the current national lockdown restrictions, which is to protect the NHS, save lives and keep people safe. This has been our immediate approach throughout the Coronavirus pandemic and will continue to be.”

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£10,000 covid fine for a religious event in Notts which police said couldn't go ahead but did anyway£10,000 covid fine for a religious event in Notts which police said couldn't go ahead but did anyway
£10,000 covid fine for a religious event in Notts which police said couldn't go ahead but did anyway

The government rues under the latest lock down state ‘You must not leave or be outside of your home except where you have a ‘reasonable excuse’. This is the law. The police can take action against you if you leave home without a ‘reasonable excuse’, and issue you with a fine (Fixed Penalty Notice)’.

Inspector Walker said: "Over the last week in particular, we have absolutely clarified these events are not allowed, and we have since made it explicity clear whilst we wholeheartedly support the number of religious groups in our communities, there are certain restrictions that must be adhered to in order to keep people safe.

"Whilst the rules state you can attend places of worship, this car park is evidently not a place of worship and, despite the warnings given over the last week in particular, this event continued to go ahead and that is why today we have implemented our last resort of enforcement.

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"We do recognise the majority of the local public are adhering to the current restrictions that are in place and we thank those people that are doing so for their patience during what is a difficult time for everyone.”