This is how much you'll be fined for breaking Leeds lockdown as police issue statement on new rules

Police say it is 'essential' that people in Leeds follow the new rules to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Police said they will issue fines for those who 'refuse to comply' with the new local lockdown in Leeds.

The new rules, effective from midnight tonight (i.e. effectively, 0.01am Saturday, September 26), ban households from mixing in Leeds, which is enforceable by law.

These are the new rules and the fines for breaking themThese are the new rules and the fines for breaking them
These are the new rules and the fines for breaking them
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

West Yorkshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Tim Kingsman said: “It is essential that we all follow the latest regulations and restrictions to help prevent the spread of Covid 19. This is a shared effort and police will play their part alongside Government, businesses, hospitality owners, local authorities and others.

“I would urge people to use their common sense and think about their own safety and the safety of others during these unprecedented times.

“Our officers will continue to focus on engaging, explaining and encouraging, with enforcement where necessary for those who refuse to comply.

“The demands on the police service are now back to pre-Covid levels making it even more important that everyone takes personal responsibility so police involvement is a last resort.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Leeds Council's Tom Riordan added: "The rule of six and curfew are all exactly the same in Leeds. The additional factor is about no household mixing within your own home or garden. That’s the law. Outside, in pubs and restaurants, it’s the strong advice. There’s fines if you don’t do what the restriction says within your own home. But the guidance is that you shouldn’t mix with others in pubs and restaurants.

"If you have a social bubble, if you have childcare, if you have children in two separate households, if you’re having work done on your home, etc, there are exceptions.

“But the message is: you shouldn’t really mix with other households. The clarity of the bottom line is what we are trying to get to.”

How much will you be fined for breaking Leeds local lockdown rules?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Fines for failing to observe the local lockdown rules start at £100 to £200 for a first offence. That means if you mix households and invite someone to your home or garden, you could be fined £100 or £200, with the fine doubling for each subsequent offence.

Nationally, Boris Johnson has recently doubled the fines for failing to wear a mask, or for breaking the recently introduced ‘rule of six’, which prevents more than six people meeting in a group, both indoors and outdoors.

The penalty has increasd from £100 to £200 for the first offence, with businesses now facing a hefty £10,000 fine for breaching self-isolation rules. Fines of up to £10,000 for people who fail to self-isolate have already been announced.

The Prime Minister also pledged additional funding for the police to help ensure rules are enforced, with the option of military support to reduce the burden.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In a national address on Tuesday 22 September, Mr Johnson said there had been “too many” breaches of the rules, prompting the need for harsher penalties.

He said, “We need to suppress the virus now, and as for that minority who may continue to flout the rules, we will enforce those rules with tougher penalties and fines of up to £10,000.

“We will put more police out on the streets and use the army to backfill if necessary.

“I am deeply, spiritually reluctant to make any of these impositions, or infringe anyone’s freedom, but unless we take action the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures later, when the deaths have already mounted and we have a huge caseload of infection such as we had in the spring.”