West Yorkshire Police reveals 'lots and lots' of Covid breaches over weekend amid warning that 'everyone' knows the rules

The force pleaded with the public to 'STAY home' and 'STAY safe' on Saturday night after an evening of numerous Covid breaches.

Police reminded people that 'normality is close' as they revealed the incessant rule-breaking that had taken place - with a warning that 'everyone knows the rules by now'.

An officer from the West Yorkshire Police contact management centre tweeted: "Lots and lots of COVID breaches tonight, everyone knows the rules by now.

"Please STAY home and STAY safe, normality is close now!"

West Yorkshire Police has created a form online to use to report any suspected coronavirus restriction breaches and if you do break the rules, police can take action against you.

The government guidance states: "This includes breaking up illegal gatherings and issuing fines (fixed penalty notices).

"You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.

"If you hold, or are involved in holding, an illegal gathering of over 30 people, the police can issue fines of £10,000."

It comes after last week, when West Yorkshire Police warned parents that fines for teenagers gathering in groups and breaking lockdown rules will fall on them.

The force said that people are doing their best to play a part in reducing the spread of Covid, but that they are seeing 'regular' incidents of large groups of teenagers gathering.

After hundreds flocked to Roundhay Park and Woodhouse Moor during the sunshine at the start of March, Brian Booth, chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Federation, also questioned why people would put themselves at risk now when the risk in a few months will be far less.

He added: "I want to speak to the public to urge them to maintain the current guidelines - which are put in place to keep us all safe.

"It's not just yourselves you are putting at risk but also my colleagues just because you might want a bit of sun.

"Infection rates are still high and Covid is still strongly amongst us especially with the variants so why take so much of a risk now when in a few months you can do what you want to do?"

Today marks the first step of lockdown-easing in Leeds and across the UK - but this only allows children to return to school, people to meet one person from another household for a coffee or picnic, and care home residents to have one indoor visitor.

Under the Government's lockdown roadmap, the initial date of March 29 has been set for when people will be allowed to meet up in groups of six or from two households outdoors.

It is only at this point that people will no longer legally be required to stay at home.