Nine Metropolitan Police officers have been fined for breaching coronavirus regulations by eating together in a cafe while on duty, Scotland Yard said.
The officers, members of the South East Basic Command Unit, were investigated after images of them in uniform eating together were posted online earlier this month.
The photos were reportedly taken at The Chef House Kitchen Café in Greenwich on January 9.
After the incident, the officers were issued fixed penalty notices of £200 following an investigation by the force.
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Chief Superintendent Rob Atkin, South East BCU commander, said: "Police officers are tasked with enforcing the legislation that has been introduced to stop the spread of the virus and the public rightly expect that they will set an example through their own actions.
"It is disappointing that on this occasion, these officers have fallen short of that expectation. It is right that they will pay a financial penalty and that they will be asked to reflect on their choices."
IT manager Brian Jennings took the pictures.
He said at the time: "There’s a large police depot on the Thames riverside near me, I walk past it a few times a week because it’s a nice quiet place to take exercise.
"On the neighbouring industrial estate there’s a café.
"We noticed in the first lockdown and then we noticed it again today that, regularly, first thing in the morning there will be half a dozen squad cars outside and every table full of police officers having breakfast in there."
Mirror Online has contacted The Chef House Kitchen Café for comment.
