Fixed Penalty Notices for Covid rule breaches

A total of 156 fines have been handed out for Covid regulation breaches in the Macclesfield policing area during the current lockdown.

According to Cheshire Police figures these fixed penalty notices (FPNs) were among 1,273 handed out county-wide between January 4 and March 7.

Among those to be fined were 10 people at a birthday party in Upton Priory and people who have been caught in wintery conditions in rural areas of Macclesfield.

Other breaches include businesses remaining open when they should be closed and multiple people travelling without reasonable excuse.

Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said: “As we move into spring and summer we know that more people will be visiting beauty spots. The rules in place remain clear and officers will be supporting the relaxation of the rules and will be enforcing when met with blatant and repeat breaches.

“If you are visiting beauty spots for recreation or exercise, only do so with members of your household/bubble or one person from outside your household. Please also think, is it necessary to travel to a beauty spot to do this, or can you do it more locally to your home?”

Police say when faced with rule breaches their approach will continue to be engagement first then enforcement if necessary.