15 times Covid rules were breached across Hampshire

Rules have been in place since March last year banning huge groups from gathering in a bid to tackle the spread of coronavirus. 

The UK has now seen three national lockdowns, which mean people can only leave the home for an essential reason and certain businesses have been forced to close.

Between the lockdowns, strict rules have been in place to prevent mass gatherings.

From house parties to restaurants breaching rules, here are 15 times Covid rules were violated in Hampshire: 

100 people at Southampton restaurant Iroko Lounge

Iroko Lounge, on Onslow Road, will not be able to reopen until November 18 after what has been described as “the worst breach” of the Covid-19 rules across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The decision was taken after a police report revealed that more than 100 people attended a party at the venue on August 23. 

At the time police officers could not fully enter the venue “due to the number of persons inside dancing in immediate proximity to each other”, it has been revealed.

There was no evidence of social distancing, no Covid-19 risk assessment and track and trace details “did not exist”, the force said.

Read the full story here.

Elephant and Castle pub in Totton hosts birthday party

Licencing officers spotted people drinking alcohol, playing pool, standing in groups and playing table football at the Elephant & Castle in Totton in December.

Police say drinkers were consuming alcohol at tables where they had not ordered food, while "minimal" food was being prepared in the kitchen.

CCTV was checked and customers were seen walking into the pub, standing at the bar, walking around with face masks, and drinking numerous beverages without meals.

A birthday party was seen in progress with people mixing between household groups.

Read the full story here.

Spartans Gym in Southampton shut for 'covid breach'

Spartans Gym was forced to close in line with coronavirus restrictions at the start of January following a lengthy battle between the gym, the City Council and police. 

City council officers alongside police raided the building in Millbank Street after unsuccessful attempts to speak with people inside.

Ten people were reported for summons and each was issued with a fixed penalty notice of £200.

In November, Spartans Gym was previously made the subject to a prohibition notice.

Despite facing legal proceedings initiated by the Council, the gym continued to operate, even when Southampton was under Tier 4 restrictions.

Read the full story here.

Bitterne Park Hotel facing fine for Christmas Eve party

Police stumbled upon a group of around "40 people drinking alcohol" in a staff-only area at the Bitterne Park Hotel.

Officers had received a report at 7pm on December 24 of four people "who appeared to be going to a party" at hotel in Cobden Avenue.

According to police, the people moving freely around the staff room without masks - a breach of the covid restrictions in place at the time.

The officers broke up the gathering and reported the licensee for summons concerning a £1,000 fixed penalty notice.

Read the full story here.

University students in Southampton boast birthday-bash

Solent University students posted videos of themselves partying through the night in January. 

The large group can be seen crammed together in a small room celebrating what the Daily Echo understands to be a 21st birthday party.

The rule-breakers, who confirmed they were Solent University students on their social media profiles, posted a 10-second long clip of them partying, singing and drinking onto their Instagram Story - which can only be viewed for 24 hours before being deleted.

A spokesperson from the uni told the Daily Echo that the incident has been reported to them and that an investigation to “establish the full facts” is taking place before any further action is taken.

Read the full story here.

Basingstoke party-goers give police bizarre excuse for staging party

Police investigating reports of an illegal house party in a Hampshire town were told: "We didn't know there was a global pandemic - we never watch the news."

Details of the incident, which occurred in January, have been posted on social media by Hampshire Constabulary.

The post says: "Officers were deployed to an address in Basingstoke this evening following several reports of a party at an address, and therefore breaching lockdown guidelines.

"The occupants were spoken to and claimed to be unaware of the global pandemic, as they never watch the news!"

Read the full story here.

City barber boasts lockdown breach as he travels from home to home

Cerenbeli Grooming, owned and run by Muss Cerenbeli, is a mobile Turkish Barbers offering services from “the comfort of home”. 

However, unlike hundreds of small businesses across the city, it has continued to operate and defy the lockdown rules. 

Gloating on social media to more than 700 followers, the barber has posted multiple times on his Instagram page – cerenbeli_grooming – encouraging people to book appointments and showing off his travels across the city. 

On one occasion, the barber travelled from Millbrook to Hedge End. 

The posts, with one of the latest put online Saturday alongside the hashtag #stilldoinghaircuts, have been seen on both the page’s main feed and also its Instagram Stories – which disappear after 24 hours. 

He was also posting call-outs to customers saying he was available for appointments. 

Read the full story here.

Southampton restaurant Ceno loses licence after Covid breach

Ceno Bar and Restaurant in Highfield Lane has had its licence revoked after a police report revealed that about 15 people were found "drinking" at the venue on November 27 last year - when the country was under the second national lockdown.

The decision was taken by licensing bosses at Southampton City Council after a three-hour long meeting in January. 

Read the full story here.

Hot tub party at Gosport home reported for rule breach

A group of people at a hot tub party in the back garden of a Hampshire address have been reported for breaching the coronavirus regulations.

One of the group reportedly claimed to police that they were "unaware of the global pandemic.

Officers from Gosport Police attended the property on the evening of Saturday, January 23.

Read the full story here.

Police find 19 people found at house party

Shortly after 10.20pm on January 30 officers say they were alerted to a "large social gathering" taking place at an Airbnb in St Chad’s Avenue, Portsmouth. 

Those in attendance, most of whom were men and women aged in their late teens and 20’s, have been summond to court and now face £800 fixed penalty notices.

A man, aged 27, from Portsmouth, was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

Another man, also aged 27, from Portsmouth was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.

Read the full story here.

Police bust house party celebrating birthday in Southampton

Officers arrived at an address on Graham Road just before 10pm on Saturday, January 30, following reports of a house party. 

Inside, they found seven people from different households. 

The resident of the house told officers he was hosting a birthday party. 

Police reported each person for summons in relation to fixed penalty notices, which means they will each face a £200 fine. 

Those who will receive the fine are men aged between 27 and 40-years-old and one woman, aged 24-years-old. 

Read the full story here. 

Man and woman found in breach of covid rules

Officers in Gosport were patrolling car parks and found two vehicles stopped in Gilkicker car park in the early hours on February 5. 

As a result, a 23-year-old male and a 22-year-old woman, both from Gosport, were found in breach of COVID-19 regulations and have been summonsed to court. 

Read the full story here. 

Eight people fined for Covid rule breaches

Police in Fareham dealt with multiple incidents of people flouting COVID-19 regulations during the second weekend of February. 

On Saturday February 6, officers attended an address in Thorney Close. It was reported that a group of people from different households were mixing.

In a separate incident on Sunday February 7, officers attended the Tesco car park in Quay Street where a group of people were mixing.

In another incident at around 9.30pm on Sunday February 7, police attended Locks Heath Recreation Ground. It was reported that a group of people from different households had been mixing.

Read the full story here.

Birthday party in 'full swing' broken up at pub

Officers received reports of a birthday party thrown for the landlord of the Delme Arms in Cams Hill, Fareham, on February 8.

Police say that nine people were gathered at the venue at around 11pm on Saturday night. 

The four women and five men were reported for summons in relation to a fixed penalty notice for a breach of the Health Protection Regulations.

Meanwhile, a licensing team is now engaging with the licensee.

Read the full story here.

Group of youths gathered at recreational ground flee police

A group of youths who gathered at a Hampshire park fled police when they tried to approach them. 

Officers spotted the large group congregating on North Baddesley recreational ground on Wednesday night, February 10, towards the end of the park. 

When the police started to approach the group to discuss the current Covid regulations, the youths fled the scene.

The group ran towards the community centre.

Read the full story here.