Twenty-five people caught defying Covid restrictions by partying in Balham

Twenty-five people have been caught defying Covid-19 restrictions by partying on a Friday night in Balham and could be fined £800.

The Met has condemned those breaching the restrictions and warned that breaking lockdown is ‘simply not worth it’.

Police were called just before 5pm on January 31, to an address in a residential block in Rinaldo Road, at the junction with Balham High Road, following reports of loud music and a large number of people gathering.

Officers found 25 people inside the address having a party.

The party-goers have since been reported for the consideration of fixed penalty notices of £800 for breaking Covid restrictions.

Inspector Sarah Burrell of the South West BCU said: “My officers should not have to be putting themselves in harms way by attending flagrant breaches such as this, but anyone who organises or attends such an event can be assured that we will turn up and we will issue fines.

“This was a blatant breach of the Coronavirus rules that are in place to save lives and protect the huge pressure on the NHS.

“We are still in the middle of a global pandemic and the risks are simply not worth it.”