Residents are being urged to stick to the pandemic lockdown rules after another surge in the number fines being issued.
Officers have now dished out 685 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) since early January – including 126 in the Crewe and Nantwich divisional area.
Despite previous warnings, police handed out 116 FPNs last weekend alone, between February 5-7.
That’s double the number of FPNs it issued in the second weekend in January, as we reported.
These were for a range of breaches from gatherings, businesses remaining open when required to close and people being out without reasonable excuse.
Of this figure, 15 FPNs were issued following a party at an address in Alderley Edge which had been hired through an online booking site.
Officers attended the address at around 8.30pm on Saturday (February 6) and spoke with a man who claimed everyone inside was from the same household.
Police found balloons, party banners and alcohol.
Some inside attempted to hide away in cupboards to avoid engaging with police.
Elsewhere, five fines were issued for a party at an address in Crewe.
And two fines were issued after people from different households were out without reasonable excuse in Widnes and three fines were issued following a gathering at a property in Warrington.
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said: “While the majority of Cheshire residents are abiding to the rules, there are still a minority who are bending and blatantly breaching restrictions which are in place to save lives.
“Officers are risking their own health to protect Cheshire residents from this deadly virus and when they are met by blatant and repeat breaches they will enforce without delay.
“There are many more people in hospital with the virus during this lockdown than at any time during the pandemic.
“This is why it is so important that people continue to stick to the regulations, we will only get through this health emergency by us all doing the right thing.
“We know that most residents have been incredibly supportive and have assisted our efforts by staying at home and only leaving for the few exemptions outlined by Government.
“For that, I thank you.”
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, David Keane said: “With the vaccine programme being rolled-out and the majority of people following the rules, each day we get closer to beating the virus but there is still a great deal of work still to do.
“By sticking to the lockdown regulations we will not only protect our loved ones but also those most vulnerable in our communities by reducing the spread of coronavirus.”
For further advice and guidance visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home
To report a coronavirus breach visit https://www.cheshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/c19/v7/tell-us-about-a-possible-breach-of-coronavirus-covid-19-measures
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