Police give £10,000 fine to group who travelled to Sussex to film music video
Many there were not wearing facial coverings or practising social distancing
Police have issued a £10,000 fine to a group who ignored Covid-19 rules by travelling to Sussex to film a music video.
Officers found more than 30 people present on the sixth floor of the Trinity Place car park in Eastbourne on Wednesday (January 20th), along with music and filming equipment.
They had received reports of a gathering due to take place between 4 and 5pm that day.
Most of the group were not wearing face coverings and were not adhering to social distancing.
A number of people were compliant and left the scene immediately.
A man from London identified himself as the owner of a music production business and organiser of the event.
He was issued with a £10,000 for holding a gathering of more than 30 persons, in breach of the current Covid-19 legislation.
A member of the group also refused to comply with requests by officers to leave the area, and he was issued with a £200 Fixed Penalty Notice.
Sussex Police’s licensing team also issued a £1,000 fine to a bar and restaurant in Forest Row for operating in breach of Covid-19 regulations.
Police found a group people inside the venue on the evening of Thursday (January 14th), as well as a member of staff behind the bar.
On seeing the officers, all those present were seen to run and hide from view.
Following enquiries, the fine was retrospectively issued to the owner and designated premises supervisor on Monday (January 18th).
Sussex Police Superintendent Julia Pope said:
“While the vast majority of people in Sussex are following the government’s Covid-19 regulations, we are unfortunately still seeing a small number of people who are ignoring the restrictions and putting themselves and other people at risk.
“We ask the public to continue doing the right thing by following the government's guidance. We will continue to respond effectively and proportionately to those found to be wilfully and obviously breaching the restrictions.
“The rules and restrictions are in place for a reason – to protect the NHS and save lives.
"We know it’s been an incredibly difficult time, but it’s still so important that we pull together and continue doing what we need to do to stop the spread of the virus and save lives.”