Two men fined £10,000 for organising funerals attended by nearly 150 people during lockdown

Nearly 150 people attended the funeral (file picture)

(Pixabay)

Two men have been hit with £10,000 fines for breaking coronavirus lockdown rules and organising a funeral that was attended by nearly 150 people.

Bedfordshire Police fined a man in his 30s on Friday for a funeral which took place the day before in Arlesey, near Stevenage, and breached current regulations allowing a maximum of 30 mourners at funerals.

Chief Superintendent John Murphy, who is leading Bedfordshire Police’s response to coronavirus, said it is “disappointing” the event went ahead despite officers attempting to engage with the family beforehand.

A 41-year-old funeral director from Mansfield was also fined £10,000 for “not managing this event correctly or advising their clients of the rules”.

Superintendent Nick Caveney from the Hertfordshire Constabulary said: “This is a very difficult time for everyone, and whilst we completely understand that people would like to mourn their loved ones, we have to remember that the current circumstances are out of the ordinary and that we must adhere to the rules to keep each other safe.

“This was a clear and blatant breach of the current restrictions, which are necessary in order to protect the NHS and help save lives.

“We implore all business owners to ensure that they are they are following the restrictions safely and responsibly. Flagrant breaches of the restrictions such as this will not be tolerated in Hertfordshire.”

Chief Superintendent Murphy added that fines and enforcement are a “last resort” for police, but that they will take “firm action against those who brazenly decide to go against the guidelines outlined by the government and put a large number of people at risk”.

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