Eighteen people who attended an illegal house party in Essex have been fined almost £15,000 for breaking Covid lockdown rules.
Police were called out to a house in Sewardstonebury, Essex at 5pm yesterday to reports that people inside were breaking current coronavirus restrictions.
Officers arrived at the house on Bury Road and were refused entry as the partygoers claimed they were making a music video, reports Essex Live.
More people arrived at the property even after police had got there.
Officers then gained entry where they found 18 individuals partying inside.
Police quickly contained the party, prevented any others from attending and fined all of those present before sending them on their way.
Essex Police attended two previous unlawful gatherings at the same property in Sewardstonebury - one on New Year’s Eve and one earlier this month.
An investigation is now underway to establish whether all three were organised by the same person, and Essex Police are working to put measures in place to prevent the future unlawful use of the property.
All 18 people present - including 17 people from London and just one from Essex – were fined £800 each.
The increased fine comes after the introduction of higher penalties last week for those caught attending illegal house parties of 15 people or more.
Following the incident Essex Police’s Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills, said: “This party was a clear and blatant breach of the current restrictions which were put in place to save lives and protect the NHS.
“These selfish individuals not only have no regard for their own safety, but they clearly didn’t give a second thought for the safety of the local community, the police officers who had to attend to deal with their reckless behaviour or the NHS who are under unbelievable pressure.
“The legislation exists for a reason, which is to stop the spread of coronavirus, protect the NHS and save lives. It relies on us working together to drive down the risk of infection.
“The overwhelming majority of people continue to do all they can to support us and help stop the spread of the virus and it is only a selfish few, such as these individuals, who think they can flout the rules with no thought for the health risk posed by their actions."
Elsewhere, in Liverpool city centre, officers found 200 people at the Richmond Hotel at 3.15am, where four parties were going on.
A police spokesman said 13 fixed penalty notices were issued, 11 documented warnings were given and everyone who was not a legitimate guest at the hotel was removed.
One woman was arrested on suspicion of breaching coronavirus legislation and two counts of assaulting a constable and a man was arrested as he was wanted, the force said.
Chief Superintendent Matt Boyle said: "This sort of behaviour is unbelievable and unacceptable and officers should not be confronted with abuse and violence when attempting to uphold the law, which most people are rightly abiding by."
The latest coronavirus regulations in England, which came into force at 5pm on Friday, include fines of £800 for people caught at house parties with groups of more than 15 people and will double after each offence, up to a maximum of £6,400 for repeat offenders.
