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| Coronavirus: New £10,000 fines for organisers of illegal raves from Friday | Coronavirus: New £10,000 fines for organisers of illegal raves from Friday |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Police in England will be able to fine organisers of illegal gatherings of more than 30 people such as raves up to £10,000 from Friday, ministers say. | Police in England will be able to fine organisers of illegal gatherings of more than 30 people such as raves up to £10,000 from Friday, ministers say. |
| Those who attend gatherings and those who do not wear face coverings where it is mandatory can be given a £100 fine, doubling on each offence up to £3,200. | Those who attend gatherings and those who do not wear face coverings where it is mandatory can be given a £100 fine, doubling on each offence up to £3,200. |
| Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can set their own enforcement rules. | Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can set their own enforcement rules. |
| The government first unveiled plans for tougher penalties for those breaking coronavirus rules earlier this month. | The government first unveiled plans for tougher penalties for those breaking coronavirus rules earlier this month. |
| Details of the stricter rules come after extra restrictions to stem the spread of Covid-19 were introduced in north-west England. | Details of the stricter rules come after extra restrictions to stem the spread of Covid-19 were introduced in north-west England. |
| Police say they have dispersed hundreds of illegal gatherings since coronavirus restrictions came into place. | Police say they have dispersed hundreds of illegal gatherings since coronavirus restrictions came into place. |
| Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "These gatherings are dangerous and those who organise them show a blatant disregard for the safety of others." | Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "These gatherings are dangerous and those who organise them show a blatant disregard for the safety of others." |
| She added: "We will continue to crack down on the small minority who think they are above the law." | She added: "We will continue to crack down on the small minority who think they are above the law." |
| Police in Birmingham said they attended more than 70 unlicensed street and house parties on Saturday night, while police in Huddersfield broke up an illegal rave involving about 300 people. | |
| In London, the Metropolitan Police has responded to more than 1,000 unlicensed events since the end of June, the Home Office said. | In London, the Metropolitan Police has responded to more than 1,000 unlicensed events since the end of June, the Home Office said. |
| The tougher rules have been welcomed by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC). | The tougher rules have been welcomed by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC). |
| Commander Ade Adelekan, NPCC lead for unlicensed music events, said those who organised such gatherings "irresponsibly put people's health and safety at risk". | Commander Ade Adelekan, NPCC lead for unlicensed music events, said those who organised such gatherings "irresponsibly put people's health and safety at risk". |
| He added: "To the organisers of this sort of activity, I strongly advise that you seriously consider the risks you're creating for everyone in attendance and the wider community. There is a risk of prosecution for those who organise these events and equipment will be seized." | He added: "To the organisers of this sort of activity, I strongly advise that you seriously consider the risks you're creating for everyone in attendance and the wider community. There is a risk of prosecution for those who organise these events and equipment will be seized." |
| The tougher penalties will also see those who flout rules around face coverings issued a larger fine - starting at £100 and doubling up to £3,200 for each repeat offence. | The tougher penalties will also see those who flout rules around face coverings issued a larger fine - starting at £100 and doubling up to £3,200 for each repeat offence. |
| In England, face coverings are mandatory in many indoor settings, including public transport, shops and museums, with some exemptions for children or on medical grounds. | In England, face coverings are mandatory in many indoor settings, including public transport, shops and museums, with some exemptions for children or on medical grounds. |
| It comes after a further 18 deaths were recorded in the UK on Saturday, bringing the total number of people to have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus to 41,423. | It comes after a further 18 deaths were recorded in the UK on Saturday, bringing the total number of people to have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus to 41,423. |
| As of 21 August, the UK recorded 21.2 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people over the last fortnight, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. | As of 21 August, the UK recorded 21.2 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people over the last fortnight, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. |
| Sir Mark Walport, a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, warned on Saturday that coronavirus would be present "forever in some form or another". | Sir Mark Walport, a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, warned on Saturday that coronavirus would be present "forever in some form or another". |
| His comments differ from those of the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who said he hoped the pandemic would be over within two years. | His comments differ from those of the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who said he hoped the pandemic would be over within two years. |