Colchester woman fined after hiring house and inviting people for a party
She is one of several people in Essex to be fined
A 20 year-old Colchester woman has been handed a fixed penalty notice (FPN) after hiring a house in the town from Airbnb and inviting four others for a party to celebrate her birthday.
Also on Thursday (4 March), a couple from Enfield were fined after travelling to Great Bentley for a break in their caravan.
It is currently against coronavirus rules to go on holiday within the UK or abroad.
Essex Police has said that as restrictions ease, it is "crucial" people continue to stick to the government’s guidelines.
Officers will be continuing to "engage with people, explain the regulations and encourage them to do the right thing".
But, the force added where "reasoned conversation is not successful, we will consider enforcement action".
FPNs have also been issued to:
A 45 year-old Basildon woman who received an unwanted birthday present in the form of a fine on Sunday (7 March), after she organised a party for up to 50 people.
Following a Border Force request to carry out an isolation check on Monday (8 March), officers visited the home of a 30 year-old Aveley woman, who had recently returned to the UK, to find she had gone to the shops for a bottle of wine and some washing powder.
The same day, a 55 year-old Grays woman also received an FPN for breaching quarantine rules after going to the shops.
And a 23 year-old man from Chelmsford, who told officers he had driven to Shoeburyness to watch the sunset, was also fined as this did not count as an essential journey.
The force is asking anyone thinking about organising a social gathering or making a non-essential journey, to "reconsider, stay safe and stop the unnecessary spread of COVID-19".
Officers also want people to continue reporting breaches online by using the digital 101 service, where you can speak to an operator via Live Chat, any day between 7am and 11pm.
Details about the latest COVID-19 restrictions can be found on the Government's website.