WEST Mercia Police issued more than 2,000 fixed penalty notices to county rule breakers during a period it is alleged more than 10 rulebreaking government gatherings took place.

Figures from the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) show the force issued at least 2,661 fixed penalty notice fines between March 27, 2020 and May 16, 2021.

Two notices were given to people that held gatherings of more than 30 people. Other notices were issued for breaking the rules around business Covid regulations (19) and not following the rules set during periods of the strictest national lockdown (209), tiers (1,766) and steps (14).

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has come under fire for the alleged rule-breaking parties and gatherings.

The latest alleged event that came to a light this week was Number 10 staff being invited to "socially distanced drinks" in the garden of Downing Street for an event on May 20, 2020 - when the country was banned from meeting more than one other person outdoors.

Mr Johnson apologised after accepting he attended for 25 minutes but said he had believed it was a "work event".

Other alleged events include a gathering attended by 20 people in the No 10 garden on May 15, 2020, and a cheese and wine night at Downing Street - where Secret Santa gifts were exchanged - on December 18, 2020.

We previously reported on the Worcestershire residents fined for being at a gathering that broke lockdown rules. Among them were:

  • Peter Milnes, 27, who had to pay a fine of £660 after participating in a gathering at his home address in James Close, Worcester in January 2021.
  • Bethany Dixon, 19, fined £660 for a gathering of two or more people in a tier 4 area in February 2021 at her home address in James Close, Worcester.
  • Emily Staney, 21, of Knapp Way, Malvern, fined £80 for being at a gathering of two or more people, in a tier four area, at an address in Blackpole Road, Worcester in March 2021.
  • Adam Nugent, of Hollybed Farm, Malvern, fined £80 for being involved in a gathering of two or more people in a tier four area - Elgar Avenue, Malvern -in February 2021.