Police blast New Year's Eve revellers after issuing £30,000-plus in Covid fines across Northamptonshire

Police broke up a music event near Kettering and slapped more than 150 revellers with £200 fines for breaking Covid-19 rules on New Year's Eve gatherings across Northamptonshire.

Investigations are under way to identify organisers of the planned rave, who will face £10,000 fixed penalties.

Officers found around 50 people at the unlicensed event in in Cranford and Superintendent Elliot Foskett said: "Officers issued multiple fines to those in attendance and the music equipment was seized.

"This event was an irresponsible and reckless act by the organisers and those who attended, showing a flagrant disregard for the safety of other people at this really challenging time."

Police responded to more than 100 reports of coronavirus legislation breaches and a number of serious assaults despite warnings to see in 2021 at home in the wake of Northamptonshire being put into Tier Four with the toughest restrictions.

Supt Foskett, silver commander for the Force’s response to Covid-19, added: "We attended more than 100 incidents and the majority of these related to parties or people meeting in houses.

"Our officers issued in excess of 150 fixed penalty notices across the county overnight, with those individuals required to pay a £200 fine.

"I know what a difficult year this has been for everyone and no one would want to have to celebrate the arrival of 2021 with such strict – but necessary - restrictions in place locally or nationally.

"The Government has been very clear about the necessity for everyone to stick to the rules and people know they cannot meet in private houses under our Tier Four restrictions.

"I want to thank the vast majority of the public who celebrated safely at home, ensuring they protected the lives and safety of others and helped protect the NHS."

The busy New Year's Eve also saw officers deal with a high volume of incidents including assaults and high-risk missing people.

Supt Emma James, duty commander for the New Year period, said: "Although this was a much different New Year's Eve for all, it was still a busy night for our officers, who worked hard to deal with offenders and provide assistance and support to those who needed it.

"Although most people were celebrating safely at home, New Year's Eve still brought a number of challenges and significant demand for policing across the county.

"As well as attending more than 100 reports of Covid legislation breaches, officers had to deal with serious assaults, high risk missing people and safeguarding issues, all of which they managed diligently and effectively to ensure the safety of those involved."

Any suspected breaches of Covid-19 regulations can be reported online HERE. Only call 999 unless you feel the situation could get heated or violent very soon, if someone is in immediate danger and you need support right away.