Essex Police reveal why Covid fines have been issued

Essex Police say the vast majority of people have been following the rules but a handful of people still continue to defy them.

Police say the recent warmer weather has also led to an increase in people leaving their homes.

These include:

-A 38-year-old man from Southend and his 35-year-old friend attracted the attention of our officers after travelling all the way to Scotland and back to test drive cars.

Their excuse? They were making videos for TikTok.

-Six men aged 23 to 39 from riding their motorbikes to Finchingfield. All were fined.

-A 32-year-old Wickford woman was issued with an FPN after inviting eight friends to her son’s birthday party. When officers arrived, guests fled over a fence.

-A 45-year old Silver End man, who admitted he should have been self-isolating, was fined after hosting an 18th birthday party attended by neighbours.

-Six men aged between 26 and 57 were issued with FPNs after gathering for a party in a Langdon Hills home.

None of them were in a support bubble with the occupants of the house.

-A 31-year-old man stopped at Stansted Airport after attempting to leave the country for a two-week break to visit family

-A 39-year-old man was issued with an fix penalty notice FPN after trying to board a flight to see relatives in Italy.

-A 51-year-old man was issued with an FPN in Waltham Abbey after he returned to work rather than quarantining following a trip to France.

-A 43-year-old woman was fined after refusing to pack up her blankets and chairs on Clacton beach even though our officers explained this was a breach of the Covid rules.

-A 32-year-old man was issued with an FPN after refusing to engage with our officers.

He was first asked to leave after setting up a barbecue with a female companion and was then seen eating fish and chips with three other people

His friends left when asked but the 32-year-old became verbally abusive and argued that he didn’t agree with the rules.