Covid fines for Salisbury group celebrating upcoming wedding
Group of six travelled to Bournemouth and back in the same vehicle
Last updated 23rd Mar 2021
In what could be the last week of the Stay at Home message Wiltshire Police issued 41 fixed penalty notices.
Six of those were given a group who travelled from Salisbury down to Bournemouth and then back again, to celebrate the fact that one of them was getting married soon.
On Saturday 20th March at around 11:30pm officers stopped a vehicle in Downton Road, Salisbury.
The five passengers were women aged 26 to 51 and the 31-year-old driver was a man.
All six were issued with £200 FPNs and the driver was also reported for traffic offences.
Nine formal warnings were also given out to people who failed to stick to the Government rules.
LOCKDOWN RULES ARE STILL IN PLACE
People are being reminded that the current lockdown rules remain in place as we approach a potential change in lockdown rules.
Next Monday, 29th March, has been earmarked as the start of the next phase of the Government's so-called roadmap back to normality.
That's when the 'Stay at Home' message is expected to be lifted.
Wiltshire Police stress it's important that people do not pre-empt any announcements from the Prime Minister and continue to follow the rules as they currently stand.
Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills said there had been a rise in fixed penalty notices issued over the past week, and that this was largely down to a small number of indoor gatherings.
"I know, as we edge closer to the date that the Prime Minister has highlighted for his next review of the Covid-19 restrictions, the temptation is there for people to start socialising and go beyond what the law currently allows.
"However, we must remain patient and cautious, if we are to keep the infection rate down.
"Over the past week we have seen isolated incidents of gatherings indoors and we have taken action, issuing fixed penalty notices where appropriate."
Since the pandemic began the total number of Fixed Penalty notices handed out by Wiltshire Police is now 821.