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First pub to be fined £1000 for breaching Covid laws

 A Plymouth pub has become the first to be issued a fixed penalty notice for breaching Covid-19 restrictions by serving drinks after 10pm.

The city centre pub has today been served the notice for a breach which occurred on 10 October. The premises licence holder will have 28 days to pay the fine which is £1,000.

The FPN is being issued under The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020, which specifically refer to restrictions on opening hours of businesses.

The police attended the pub after being told there was a birthday party going on with up to 25 people inside. As the pub is a licensed premises, it must, by law, be closed by 10pm.

When the police officers arrived at 10.45pm on Saturday 10 October, there were people sat at tables with freshly topped up pints.

Both the police and council licensing teams have visited the pub on a number of occasions to advise them of the new laws affecting pubs.

Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Customer Focus and Community Safety said: “I know that our pubs, restaurants and businesses are doing their utmost to comply with measures and regulations and that it has been incredibly testing time for them all. Both the police and the council are at pains to engage, explain and educate - but sometimes it is just not enough and we are left with no alternative but to take action.”

“Plymouth is seeing a worrying increase in the number of cases of Covid-19. In the week 10 to 16 October there were 232 new cases confirmed in Plymouth, significantly up on the previous week’s total of 177.

“Covid is here, it is with us. These measures are designed to reduce the risk of people catching it. This is about doing all we can to keep the public safe.”

About Fixed Penalty Notices

Penalty notices may be issued as an alternative to prosecution. Unlike cautions, an admission of guilt is not a prerequisite to issuing a penalty notice.

Anyone issued with a penalty notice may be prosecuted for the offence if he or she:

  • asks to be tried for the offence or
  • fails to pay the penalty within the period set out in the notice and the prosecutor decides to proceed with court