Female officer attacked after police called to illegal Covid breaking party in Leeds student flat

Officers were called to the flats in Burley Road at about 1.10am on Sunday, December 27 after reports of large gathering of people.

Leeds is currently under Tier 3 level lockdown restrictions meaning households are not able to mix indoors.

Details were taken from the people at the party and they were dispersed from the area.

During the incident, a policewoman was assaulted by an 18-year-old man.

She suffered facial injuries.

The man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and criminal damage.

He was bailed pending continuing enquiries

Police were granted new powers to enforce lockdown measures in March of this year.

Under the new legislation, police officers seeing members of the public breaking the rules have the power to:

- Instruct them to go home, leave an area or disperse

- Ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking these rules

- Issue a fixed penalty notice of £60, which will be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days.

- Issue a fixed penalty notice of £120 for second time offenders, doubling on each further repeat offence.

- Individuals who do not pay a fixed penalty notice under the Regulations could be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose unlimited fines.

- If an individual continues to refuse to comply, they will be acting unlawfully, and the police may arrest them where deemed proportionate and necessary.