Almost 300 fines handed out by West Midlands Police to people flouting Covid-19 rules
Almost 300 fines were handed out to people across the West Midlands last week to people flouting Covid-19 restrictions.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) David Jamieson revealed a total of 294 fixed penalty notices were issued.
But he said the "vast overwhelming majority" of people in the region were still following the rules set by the Government.
Police issued the fines to a number of people as they broke up birthday parties and other illegal gatherings across the region.
Mr Jamieson, speaking at a briefing on Friday, said: "There have been, in the last seven days, 294 fixed penalty notices and one 'super fine'.
"I can also say the vast overwhelming majority in the West Midlands are abiding by the rules and abiding by the law and that remains to be the case.
'Very close proximity'
"On Friday and Saturday last week, there were 159 Covid-related calls for service to the police. In Washwood Heath, there was a very large gathering who were apparently celebrating the birth of a child.
"I fully understand why people would want to celebrate the birth of a child – but I certainly do not understand why you would want to celebrate bringing one life into the world when you risk actually taking others out of the world. There were two fixed penalty notices and 25 directions to leave and also the organiser of that event faces the super fine of £10,000."
The PCC said officers shut down a birthday party involving 25 people in "very close proximity" in a part of Birmingham as well as a 50-person birthday party in Erdington, complete with a DJ.
Mr Jamieson said he was "concerned" there could be a surge in crime when lockdown is lifted – currently set out in the Prime Minister's roadmap as June 21, which could change.
He added: "I think the damage to the economy that has been occasioned, not by anybody's fault other than Covid, is very substantial. And that recovery is absolutely essential and I have also said on previous occasions I would be minded of the social impact of that recovery which it could affect very much.
"And I'm very concerned, still, that when the lockdown eases there could be exuberance which could then turn into things that become criminality. I'm reading now reports that June 21 is being now banded around as the likely date for when lockdown will be lifted. You can be assured that police will be ready for that and will be planning for that whenever it takes place."
