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Police fine 40 students found at late-night party in student accommodation in Nottingham

Trinity Square, Nottingham
Police were called to student accommodation in Trinity Square, Nottingham, to break up a party. (Google Street View)

A group of 40 young people are facing hefty fines after police were called to break up a party at student accommodation in Nottingham.

Officers were called to a flat in Trinity Square in the city just before 11.15pm on Wednesday after seeing details of the party on social media, Nottinghamshire Police said.

Those behind the party face a fine of £10,000 for organising a gathering inside for more than 30 people in breach of COVID-19 rules, while those who attended each face a fixed penalty notice of £200, police said. Officers also seized a bag of cocaine and a PA system from the property.

The party came just before students in Nottingham were warned “you will be punished” after dozens of young people in Halloween fancy dress were confronted by police in the city ahead of Tier 3 rules being implemented.

Watch: Police threat of fines falls on deaf ears as large groups in fancy dress descend on Nottingham

Nottingham was placed into the “very high” bracket on Friday at 12.01am, with new rules coming into place such as a ban on buying alcohol from shops after 9pm.

Assistant Chief Constable Kate Meynell, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “As we’ve said time and again, the very last thing we want to be doing as police officers is to be issuing these fines, but we have a responsibility to enforce the law and to keep people safe.

“We take that responsibility very seriously and we will continue to take action against people who wilfully break the rules in this way. It is perfectly clear that these kind of gatherings are not allowed and there really is no excuse for what we saw last night.

“This pandemic is a serious risk to public health. Cases are rising fast and more people are getting seriously ill as a result.

“We expect people to follow and obey the law and hope that this latest incident serves as a warning to others – that if you do break the rules in this way you will be caught and you will be punished.”

Watch: What is long COVID?

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