Op Hillman – Covid-19 regulation breaches update
Police have recommended 20 fines be issued over breaches of COVID regulations at the heart of the UK government.
It’s in relation to the so-called Partygate scandal that has rocked Boris Johnson and weakened his authority.
It’s alleged multiple social gatherings were held in Downing Street, breaking the government’s own rules designed to restrict the spread of COVID-19.
“The investigation into allegations of breaches of COVID-19 regulations in Whitehall and Downing Street has now progressed to the point where the first referrals for fixed penalty notices (FPN) will be made to ACRO Criminal Records Office,” said the Metropolitan Police in a statement.
“We will today initially begin to refer 20 fixed penalty notices to be issued for breaches of Covid-19 regulations. The ACRO Criminal Records Office will then be responsible for issuing the FPNs to the individual following the referrals from the MPS.
“We are making every effort to progress this investigation at speed and have completed a number of assessments. However, due to the significant amount of investigative material that remains to be assessed, further referrals may be made to ACRO if the evidential threshold is made.”
Labour says the prime minister ‘has got to go’ as he allegedly attended six of the 12 parties under investigation.
Johnson has not yet been informed whether he will receive a fine, his official spokesperson said but added that they are “committed” to ensuring the public is informed if the prime minister is given a penalty notice.
Twelve events across Downing Street and Whitehall are being investigated between May 2020 and April 2021, six of which the prime minister is alleged to have attended.
Labour has accused the prime minister of being “not fit to lead us” as Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader said the prime minister should resign if he is fined today for the partygate scandal.
“If the prime minister is fined because he has broken his own rules then I think his position is untenable,” she said.
In a statement, Scotland Yard said that cases were being referred today to the ACRO Criminal Records Office, which will have responsibility for issuing fixed penalty notices, which are set at £100 for the first offence.
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