Over 66 fines issued as part of Council and Police crackdown on coronavirus rule breaking in Hackney
Over 66 fines were issued and three arrests were made over the weekend in Hackney as part of continued joint Council and Police action to ensure that everyone is sticking to the coronavirus restrictions and to help keep Hackney safe.
While the Council does not have the power to take action against individuals who are not complying with social distancing guidance, enforcement officers have been supporting the Police to ensure that everyone understands and follows vital lockdown guidelines, which were introduced in response to a rapid rise in coronavirus cases in the UK.
In Hackney, the current rate of coronavirus cases is 753 cases per 100,000, compared to a rate of 19 per 100,000 seen in the borough in the last week of August 2020.
The patrols, which took place on Saturday 16 January, resulted in over 66 fines being issued in Hackney for breaches of lockdown regulations. Three arrests were also made for an assault on an emergency worker, possession of a class B drug and a breach of Covid-19 regulations.
Officers visited key areas where incidents of people not following the rules have been reported, including Broadway Market, Blackstock Road, Gillett Square, Haggerston Square and Stamford Hill.
Licensing officers also visited over 40 businesses during the patrols to ensure that they’re following the vital Covid-19 guidelines, including the prohibition of takeaway alcohol sales which was introduced on 5 January.
A small minority of businesses were found to be non-compliant with Covid-19 regulations, with one business continuing to trade after a previous £1000 fine. Enforcement action will be taken against businesses that do not follow the guidelines
Since July 2020, the Council has visited nearly 2,500 local businesses to support them to trade safely.
While the majority of residents are adhering to the coronavirus regulations and staying at home, the Council and Police have been working together over the past nine months to ensure that the vital public health rules are followed in public and by businesses.
Although the Council doesn’t have the power to take action against individuals who are not complying with social distancing guidance, we are deploying our officers to advise residents, assist the police and support businesses. This is just one of the ways in which partnership working is helping to ensure that residents and businesses are clear on - and following - the Government’s guidelines.
I would like to commend and thank the Council and Police officers involved in this work, which is playing a central role in the fight against this terrible virus.
I joined officers in Broadway Market this weekend and saw firsthand the incredible and effective partnership work that was taking place, which is part of ongoing joint action to help stop the spread of this deadly virus.
The vast majority of residents were sticking to the vital public health guidelines and helping to keep our borough safe, and where residents were not adhering to the coronavirus rules, enforcement action was taken.
We will continue working with our partners in the Police, our business community and local residents in the months ahead to help keep Hackney safe.
I’d like to commend and thank our business community, who have gone above and beyond to ensure that their premises are safe for staff and customers. It is a tiny minority that were found to have broken the regulations.
Throughout the pandemic, the Council has been working closely with local businesses to ensure that they’re trading safely and that they have the support they need during this difficult time.
The majority of Hackney’s local businesses are working hard to adhere to the Covid-19 regulations and making a commendable effort in helping to keep Hackney safe. But to those that decide to breach the regulations - the Council and partners will continue to take enforcement action against anyone that is not complying with the rules and putting staff and customers' health at risk
Police and Council officers have been working closely throughout the pandemic to ensure that everyone is adhering to the public health restrictions, which have been put in place to help stop the spread of this deadly virus.
We were pleased to see that the vast majority of residents are taking the coronavirus guidelines seriously and helping to protect themselves and others. We will continue working with the Council to ensure that residents are aware of the guidelines, to take concrete enforcement action where necessary and to help keep Hackney safe.
Keep Hackney safe by reporting any potential Covid-19 safety breaches:
- If you’re concerned that a business in Hackney is not complying with the Covid-19 regulations, please let Hackney Council know by emailing covidresponseteam@hackney.gov.uk
- Hackney Council does not have powers to take action against individuals who are not complying with social distancing guidance. If you have concerns about individuals not following social distancing guidance or wearing face masks, please report these directly to the police online or by calling 101.