Southwark and Lambeth top cop warns reckless Covid rule-breakers they will be punished

South London’s police chief has warned residents who break lockdown rules will be punished for putting lives in danger.

Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove says his officers have already dealt with an illegal unlicensed music event in Page’s Walk, Bermondsey. 

Five Covid fixed penalty notices were issued and two arrests were made – one for possession of a knife and another for Class A drug supply.

More fines have been issued since Christmas than in the rest of the pandemic, he revealed.

Cops are also driving ambulances to help with the vast number of emergency trips paramedics have had to make in the two boroughs with nearly 3,500 new cases in the last week, being treated in King’s College and St Thomas’s Hospitals.

There have been nearly 20,000 Covid-19 cases in Southwark in total so far, 1,588 new ones in the week up to Jan 20; and 21,050 in Lambeth, with 1,841 new ones in the same week.

The top cop said: “Since Christmas we’ve have had to tackle some staggering examples of selfishness and quite frankly, stupidity.

“The situation is critical. We have two large hospitals that provide

accident and emergency care and the staff that support them are being run ragged with the

sheer number of people that they are caring for. 

“Our ambulances are experiencing delays, in large part due to the high levels of Covid. The Met is supporting the London Ambulance Service with 75 officers who will be driving some of the ambulances to emergency calls across London. 

“The rules are clear and we are thankful that most people are staying at home as much as they can, wearing masks and avoiding gatherings. 

“However, a small, selfish minority continue to bend, break and in some cases completely ignore these rules and in doing so endanger us all.”

Officers will give warnings but after that will issue fines, he said. “We will quickly issue fines or even arrest people who fail to respond,” he added. “The Met has issued more fines in recent weeks than in the whole of the rest of the pandemic – not because we want to but because the situation across London is now so critical.

“Enforcement action has been taken against the most dangerous and wilful breaches. On one day this week six prohibition notices were issued to businesses in Southwark for flagrantly breaching Covid rules. 

“Rates are still dangerously high – many, many times what they were only a few weeks ago. More than 10,000 Londoners have died of Covid and every day last week more than 10,000 were diagnosed with Covid. Tragically, this will mean more people will die. 

“That’s why we must stay at home but if you do need to go out for one of the allowed

reasons be assured that your local police will be playing their part in keeping you, and

everyone else, safe.

“You’ll realise that every time officers have to tackle people for Covid breaches, or indeed

other crime and anti-social behaviour, they put themselves, and their families at increased

risk from this deadly disease. I know you’ll join me in thanking them for their

professionalism, dedication and commitment.”