New Covid laws will mean people in England can be fined £10,000 on the spot for faking a vaccine status or negative test result to get into a nightclub.
The government tonight published extraordinarily detailed laws on ‘Covid passes’ which are due to be voted on by MPs tomorrow.
The law - expected to be approved tomorrow despite a Tory revolt - will apply to all venues open after 1am.
It will also apply to indoor crowded venues with capacity over 500, outdoor crowded events of 4,000 or more, and any event of 10,000 people.
From Wednesday at 6am, these venues in England will have to demand punters show a ‘Covid pass’ as a condition of entry.
This will mean either showing they have had two doses of a vaccine or they have had a recent negative Covid test.
People will be able to show either the NHS app on their phone, or a text or e-mail from the government.
This had led to speculation that people could fake the texts that are received from the NHS testing service confirming a negative result.
However, the legislation reveals it will be an offence to make, adapt, supply or offer to supply "false evidence of Covid status to another person" which is known to be "false or misleading”.
If someone is issued a fixed penalty notice for this offence, it is £10,000 for a first offence, the legislation says.
The laws will be voted on by MPs tomorrow but are expected to pass despite a Tory revolt, as they have Labour ’s support.
The Health Protection ( Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Entry to Venues and Events) (England) Regulations 2021 were published today.
They could also see businesses shut down by councils if they fail to comply with the rules or show they are carrying out suitable checks on customers attending events.
Venues which do not comply with rules on carrying out checks or ignore improvement or closure notices issued by councils could be fined £1,000 in the first instance, reduced to £500 if paid within 14 days.
This increases £2,000 and £4,000 for second and third offences and jumping to £10,000 for fourth or any subsequent offences thereafter.
A 24-page document setting out the regulations, which expire on January 26, said they impose "obligations on those responsible for organising certain events, or managing certain venues to take reasonable measures to ensure that they do not admit any person to such events, or venues unless the person concerned has been fully vaccinated or has tested negative for coronavirus within the last 48 hours, is participating (or has participated) in a clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine or, for clinical reasons, should not be vaccinated with a coronavirus vaccine."
Businesses must also keep records on the checks they have carried out for at least three months after events, under a section of the law lasting until April 26.
The rules apply to nightclubs, dance halls, discos, some live music venues, theatres, concert halls or other public buildings, exhibition and conference centres and sports stadiums, and others which are open between 1am and 5am, have a dancefloor, play music for dancing, and serve alcohol in the early hours of the morning.
It separates events, including those taking part in the "English territorial sea", into categories depending on size, from 500 people to 10,000 or more, whether they are indoors or outdoors and if people are likely to "stand or move around" at any time.
The document adds: "A person who only leaves their seat during an event to use toilet facilities, to obtain food or drink or to leave the event, is not to be treated as moving around for part of the event."
Customers must present a NHS Covid pass or an approved equivalent certificate to show they have been vaccinated, or show a "valid notification" of a negative test result taken within 48 hours prior to the event unless they are exempt.
The rules do not mention a positive PCR test within six months as a means of entry.
Venues are "required to check every person admitted to the event or venue" unless they get approval from councils in advance to carry out spot checks instead if clearing everyone for entry would not be possible, would lead to crowds gathering and present a safety risk or a "potential threat for terrorist action".
The rules give councils powers to issue improvement or closure notices if officers have concerns about venues adhering to the rules and think action needs to be taken to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus.
Others who are exempt include venue employees, anyone attending for "official duties" or organised sports or fitness activities, children under 18, and emergency services.
Exceptions to the rules include weddings, funerals, memorials and other "significant life events" like celebrating someone's birth, "coming of age" or ceremonies to mark religious membership, as are events taking place in private houses, pubs, cafes, restaurants, bars and social or members' clubs unless the event is ticketed and there is a charge for entry.
Human rights barristers Adam Wagner, who examines coronavirus regulations and interprets them on Twitter for the public, said the laws were "so complex" and it was "absolutely absurd" they were published less than 24 hours before Parliament is due consider and vote on them.
Amendments to separate Covid laws, published at the same time, confirm the Government's decision to scrap self-isolation for those who have come into contact with a suspected Omicron Case take effect from 6am on Tuesday.
