Four left chewing over £800 Covid fines after 5am trip to McDonald's in Northampton

Police catch quartet breaching lockdown laws by heading for breakfast in the same car
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An early-morning takeaway turned out way more expensive than planned as Police hit a hungry car-load of four £200 Covid fines.

Officers from the Northampton Response Team pulled over the vehicle with four people on board in Bedford Road in Northampton at around 5am on Wednesday.

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The quartet — two men and two women — claimed they were heading for McDonald's, even though the burger giant is not opening until 7am during the latest lockdown.

Enquiries confirmed the four were not from the same household, so the journey breached lockdown laws which officially came into force at midnight.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered the country to only leave home only when absolutely in a bid to halt the spread of Covid-19.

Valid reasons include shopping, going to work, medical reasons and exercise once a day. In addition, people are only allowed to meet up with one other person from outside their own household, and only when outdoors.

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Car sharing is allowed but only people from a single household or support bubble can travel together in a vehicle.

Police landed four hungry travellers with an £800 breakfast bill. Photo: @NptonResponsePolice landed four hungry travellers with an £800 breakfast bill. Photo: @NptonResponse
Police landed four hungry travellers with an £800 breakfast bill. Photo: @NptonResponse

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: "Please make sure you are up to date with the most recent gov.uk guidance so you don't end up with a ticket!

"The Government has been very clear about the necessity for everyone to stick to the rules about when you can go out and what you can do.

“The vast majority of people across Northamptonshire continue to act responsibly however, a small minority continue to spoil it for everyone else.

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“If you are the kind of person who decides to put others at risk with irresponsible behaviour, you can expect us to take the appropriate action.

“We need everyone to play their part and protect the NHS — this is more important now than ever before, due to the alarming rise in infections."

Anyone aged 18 or over can be fined £200 for a first offence — lowered to £100 if paid within 14 days — £400 for a second offence, then doubling for each further offence up to a maximum of £6,400

Any suspected breaches of Covid-19 regulations can be reported online HERE. Only call 999 unless you feel the situation could get heated or violent very soon, if someone is in immediate danger and you need support right away.