Four men have been fined GBP800 for breaking lockdown rules after claiming they were “out looking at the snow”.
The group, who are all from different households, were travelling in two separate cars in Guildford when they were stopped by police.
Surrey officers tweeted in the early hours of this morning: “We stopped two cars that were travelling in convoy with each other in Guildford.
“The cars contained four men, all from different households and said they were… ‘out looking at the snow’.
“Four GBP200 COVID fines issued.”
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Over 45,000 fines issued for COVID breaches – Patel
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Almost seven inches of snow fell across parts of the UK overnight and forecasters have warned of more wet and windy weather in the coming days.
Last week, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced a new GBP800 fine for people who attend house parties with more than 15 people, in a bid to crackdown on lockdown rule breakers.
The penalty, which comes into force this week, will apply to all those caught at the gatherings where more than 15 people are present, and double for each subsequent offence up to a maximum of GBP6,400.
She told a Downing Street news conference: “Such irresponsible behaviour poses a significant threat to public health – not only to those in attendance, but also our wonderful police officers.
“We will not stand by while a small number of individuals put others at risk.”
She added: “Police officers are now moving more quickly to handing out fines when they encounter breaches. And they have my absolute backing in doing so.”
Previously in England the fixed penalty fine for breaching coronavirus restrictions on indoor gatherings stood at GBP200 – or GBP100 if paid within two weeks.
The toughest fines of GBP10,000 still only apply to those who organise illegal mass gatherings of over 30 people, like house parties or raves.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, police in London fined partygoers at an illegal rave over GBP15,000.
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Moment police raided illegal rave
Officers raided the unlicensed music event at a railway arch in Nursery Road, Hackney, at around 1.30am where they found 300 people in attendance.
Many fled but 78 people were stopped and issued with GBP200 fixed penalty notices, making a total of GBP15,600 in fines.
It’s the latest in a series of illegal gatherings in the capital.
Last Thursday, police broke up a wedding attended by 150 people in a north London school, whose principal died from the coronavirus last year.
On Sunday 17 January, police discovered more than 200 people at an illegal gathering in Knightsbridge.
The previous day, more than 30 people were found socialising in a venue in Ladbroke Grove.