Police issued 126 fines and 34 prohibition notices at new year's eve parties which were in breach of Covid-19 health regulations, the PSNI has confirmed.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said 126 fines of £200 and 34 prohibition notices had been issued while two penalty notices had also been issued to businesses which had stayed open in breach of the regulations.
The north is in week one of a six-week lockdown and a curfew remains in place between 8pm and 6am during which people are required to stay at home. People are also asked not to have guests in their house or garden during the first week of the lockdown, which has the most stringent measures in place and ends tomorrow.
For the next five weeks households should not mix indoors although up to six people from two households can meet in a private garden while socially distancing. Futher information is available here
ACC McEwan said it was "really disappointing" that despite the health crisis caused by coronavirus "there were still people last night who deliberately decided to breach the regulations and put themselves and others at risk".
The senior officer said that between 8pm last night and 8am this morning police had received 1,004 calls in relation to reports of anti-social behaviour, assault, concern for safety, criminal damage, missing persons and road traffic collisions.
“Of particular concern was the number of domestic abuse incidents and, in the last 24 hours, we received reports of 86 incidents of domestic abuse from homes across Northern Ireland," he said, adding that 38 arrests had been made.
“Sadly, we know domestic abuse doesn’t only occur at Christmas, that it happens all year round. Historically, however, figures show over the Christmas period incidents of domestic abuse rise.
“We also know that during this pandemic more people have been, and will continue to, spend more time at home than they usually would. The combined impact of this pandemic and the festive season will have made it really tough for people experiencing abuse and, in some situations, even worse."
The Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline offers round the clock help on 0808 802 1414.
Email help@dsahelpline.org or access the website at dsahelpline.org for web chat
Read more:
- Lockdown 'could prevent domestic abuse victims accessing help'
- Gardaí uncover suspected 'shebeen' in Co Kildare
Coronavirus is spreading here. Restrictions are in place to stop the spread of #COVID19, save lives and protect the health service. Find out what the restrictions mean for you at: https://t.co/96O0OLVFQR
— nidirect (@nidirect) December 30, 2020
Here’s a summary of the measures ?? pic.twitter.com/F2kQ4hVJii
