Police in Newton Abbot experience busy weekend despite lockdown

It comes as over 250 Covid breaches were reported in Devon and Cornwall on Saturday

Author: Sophie SquiresPublished 11th Jan 2021

Uninsured drivers, drug possession, and kids with alcohol.

Those are just some of the crimes that police in Newton Abbot dealt with this weekend.

Despite lockdown, the force were busy, with them saying: "If all these people had just stayed at home."

It comes as Devon and Cornwall Police reported over 250 Covid breaches on Saturday (9 January).

Control Room Supervisor, Glenn Shuttleworth, said it was mostly for people visiting holiday homes.

Under lockdown rules, you must not be outside of your home except where necessary. This includes:

  • Going to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home
  • Shopping for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person
  • Exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area
  • Meeting your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one
  • Seeking medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
  • Attending education or childcare - for those eligible

If you are caught breaking the rules, you can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, which will double for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.

If you hold, or are involved in holding, an illegal gathering of over 30 people, the police can issue fines of £10,000.

A full list of the official national guidance can be found here.

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