CORONAVIRUS: Council in appeal to parents as young people in Boston ignore new lockdown rulings

Boston Council has issued an appeal to parents as groups of children and young people continue to gather together, despite the country being in lockdown.
Police talk to a group gathered in the Market Place last weekPolice talk to a group gathered in the Market Place last week
Police talk to a group gathered in the Market Place last week

The council says reports are still coming in of groups congregating in play areas, despite them all being closed as part of the lockdown designed to keep people at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

A spokesperson said: “We are appealing to parents to keep their children at home and follow government advice on social distancing. Gatherings of more than two people are currently banned.

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“We have reported these matters to the local neighbourhood policing teams, who will be dealing proportionately with anyone using play areas.”

As well as all play areas, the council last week took the decision to close down Boston’s Central Park after people were reported to be ignoring social distancing rules and gathering in groups there.

New legislation brought in on the back of the lockdown last week states that:

• officers will be able to disperse groups of more than two people from any public place. Groups of more than two people who live in the same household are permitted

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• Anyone who refuses to disperse will be given a fixed penalty notice of £60. This will be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days

• Second time offenders will be issued with a £120 fixed penalty notice. This will then double on each further repeat offence

• Anyone who does not pay a fixed penalty notice under the new regulations could be taken to court. Magistrates will then be able to impose unlimited fines

• Anyone who refuses to comply will be acting unlawfully. This may result in being arrested, where it is deemed proportionate and necessary. However, the first instance, police will always apply their common sense and discretion.

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Lincolnshire Police Chief Constable Bill Skelly has stressed that officers will only use enforcement action as a ‘last resort’.

And Assistant Chief Constable Kerrin Wilson, who is leading on the force’s response to Covid-19, said earlier this week: “We don’t want to have to issue any fines or make arrests – we will only do this when there is no other option.

“We won’t be setting up road-blocks and stopping people in their vehicles unless there is a clear policing reason for us to do so – we are trusting our communities to follow the national advice and only make essential journeys.”

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