Vast majority shunned Christmas and New Year parties over festive season, figures from West Yorkshire Police show

The vast majority of the public in West Yorkshire stayed at home and shunned the temptation of parties and gatherings over the Christmas and New Year period, police figures suggest.
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Data released by West Yorkshire Police in response to a Freedom of Information request shows officers recorded 240 instances of someone holding or participating in social gatherings between Saturday December 19 and January 2 – a fortnight which would usually be the busiest time of the year for parties and indoor gatherings, but in 2020 was overshadowed by surging Covid-19 infection rates.

Of these, there were six records relating to indoor rave-style gatherings of more than 30 people, and one callout to a party of more than 30 people at a private dwelling.

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More than half of all crimes recorded (162) involved people found participating in indoor gatherings of two or more people outside their household.

West Yorkshire Police recorded 240 instances of illegal gatherings over the Christmas and New Year periodWest Yorkshire Police recorded 240 instances of illegal gatherings over the Christmas and New Year period
West Yorkshire Police recorded 240 instances of illegal gatherings over the Christmas and New Year period

Of all the crimes recorded by the force, 22 culminated in officers issuing penalty notices under the Coronavirus Act 2020, although many other reports remain open for investigation.

However, the force did not disclose the sum total of any fines issued.

It comes as data released by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) this week revealed that only a fraction of the maximum £10,000 fines issued to the worst cases of coronavirus rule breaking have actually been paid.

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According to snapshot figures from early January, of the 196 £10,000 fines issued in England, five had been paid. Some 53 were being formally contested, while 42 had been ignored, and 96 still had time left to pay in the 28-day payment period.

Latest figures showed that up to January 17, a total of 250 of the fines had been issued in England and Wales, including to the organisers of a mass snowball fight attended by hundreds of people on Woodhouse Moor, Leeds, last month.

Last week, police in South Yorkshire revealed more than £34,000' worth of fines had been doled out after officers were called to a party at Ranmoor Student Village in Sheffield.

Human rights barrister Kirsty Brimelow QC said the penalties put people at risk of criminalisation when the original purpose of fines was to keep them out of the justice system.

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“The majority of people cannot afford to pay a £10,000 fine,” she said.

“People are being set up to fail by the issuing of these notices.”

Meanwhile, hefty new fines of up to £10,000 were announced by the Government this week for people travelling or returning to the UK from overseas who fail to take Covid-19 tests or refuse to quarantine.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock also said that those who lie on their passenger locator forms would face up to 10 years in jail – a proposal which has drawn mass criticism but has been defended by the Government.

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A Home Office spokesperson said: “The majority of the public are continuing to play their part to control this terrible virus by staying at home – it is shameful that a small minority continue to flout the law and it’s right we have a strong deterrent for those who put us at risk by ignoring the rules.

“Those who refuse to pay fixed penalty notices may face court action and a possible criminal record.

“We have given police the appropriate guidance to ensure they can charge offences correctly, and rigorously enforce the law, which is why we have made £60 million of extra funding available to police and local authorities.”