More fines for Covidiots including Brighton free-runners caught breaking lockdown rules in Chatham High Street
18:06, 10 February 2021
updated: 12:46, 15 February 2021
Two women and seven men who were making a film of themselves free-running have been fined for breaching Covid-19 rules.
Police were called to Chatham High Street after they received multiple reports from concerned members of the public that they were endangering themselves by participating in the high-risk activity.
The group, from Brighton, were among 213 others who received fines between February 5 and 10.
Since the start of the year 1,308 fines have been issued to people breaching coronavirus regulations.
A man from Tonbridge who failed to isolate when requested to do so was also fined.
He was first given a verbal warning on February 2, however police then visited his address twice more and the man was not home.
It was reported he was visiting friends and going to work. Officers located the man and fined him on Sunday.
A group of 10 men, including a number that had travelled from outside Kent, to race their horses on the beach at Lydd, were issued with fines on Saturday after being stopped by police.
A man who held a birthday party for his girlfriend in Oast Court, Sittingbourne, was among 12 others fined by officers at the address.
Police attended the property on Sunday were nine men and three women were issued with penalty notices.
A group of partygoers who attempted to evade police by hiding behind wheelie bins were also fined after officers were called to a house in South Street, Lydd, on Saturday.
Four men were issued with fines after multiple reports of the party were received by police.
"It is frustrating when there is an end in sight that these individuals continue to breach regulations"
Assistant chief constable Claire Nix said: "Officers have dealt with a number of concerning incidents over the last week.
"Each breach of the regulations not only presents a risk to the groups congregating but also to the officers who have to deal with it.
"It is disappointing that incidents of this nature continue when the vast majority of people in the county are making extreme sacrifices to protect others and prevent overwhelming the NHS.
"It is frustrating when there is an end in sight that these individuals continue to breach regulations as it is by their actions that lockdown measures may be required for a longer period.
"Nearly a year on in there is no excuse for blatantly disregarding the regulations and we will not hesitate in taking action against those doing so."
