More than 20 fines were handed out at two separate house parties at the weekend, Gwent Police has confirmed.
Officers issued a total of 23 fixed penalty notices at two house parties in Bargoed and Rhymney on Saturday, January 30.
The fixed penalty notices were issued after reports of parties taking place "in breach of Covid regulations", a spokesperson for Gwent Police confirmed.
The force first received reports of a first house party taking place on Aeron Place in Gilfach, Bargoed at 6.50pm. In total, seven fines were issued at this address.
At 10.47pm, police then received received another report of a house party taking place, this time at an address on Hill Street in Rhymney. Sixteen fines were issued at this address.
"We would like to remind people of their responsibilities to follow Welsh Government guidelines in relation to the restrictions currently in place to keep themselves and others safe," a spokesperson for Gwent Police said.
Two weeks ago, Gwent Police shared the moment one of its officers tried to break up an illegal gathering at a woman's house.
The body-worn footage was taken after a call was received about a house party involving three households in Rhymney on Saturday, January 16.
In the video a woman is seeing answering the door to police before asking: "Are you going to fine me for this?"
The woman then refuses to give her name and tries to explain the gathering by describing the three households as a bubble.
However, Welsh Government rules stipulate that a person living on their own can create a support bubble with only one other household.
Police body-worn footage of a house party involving three households in Rhymney:
On the weekend of January 16-17, officers from Gwent Police attended house parties in Pontypool, Newport, and Rhymney.
Following these incidents, the force described the behaviour of those involved as "dangerous, selfish, and totally unacceptable".
Speaking at the time, Chief superintendent Mark Hobrough said: “Alert level four restrictions are still in place in Wales which means that people should remain in their own household and only travel when necessary. House parties and any mixing of households, both indoors and outdoors, is prohibited by Welsh Government regulations.
“Organising parties and gatherings is dangerous, selfish, and is totally unacceptable in light of the current threat we face. Please don’t risk the lives of your loved ones and the wider community by having house parties or gatherings.
“We would like to thank the majority of Gwent residents who are adhering to Covid regulations and we will continue to engage, explain, and encourage our communities to work together with us to keep everyone safe.
“For those who blatantly go against the restrictions we will take enforcement action. Coronavirus levels remain high across much of Gwent and by following Welsh Government advice we’re all saving lives and protecting the NHS.”
