Derbyshire police warn parents will face fines if their children flout Covid rules this Halloween

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Police in Derbyshire have issued a warning to parents, carers, and grandparents ahead of Halloween weekend to make sure young people stick to the coronavirus rules.

Derbyshire Constabulary has issued a statement encouraging parents, carers, and grandparents to talk to their children ahead of trick or treating this weekend after an increase in reports of groups of young people gathering in groups of more than six.

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Current advice for those that live in a Tier 1 area, which is currently most of Derbyshire, is that people should not meet in groups of any more than six, indoors or outdoors.

For those in Tier 2, such as Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire, Erewash and parts of the High Peak, you can only meet with people outdoors and in groups of no more than six.

Children go trick-or-treat at a restaurant on Halloween, October 31,  (Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)Children go trick-or-treat at a restaurant on Halloween, October 31,  (Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)
Children go trick-or-treat at a restaurant on Halloween, October 31, (Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

The rest of the county will join the higher restrictions at midnight tonight, October 30, meaning tomorrow night’s trick or treaters should follow the tougher restriction guidelines.

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Inspector Rich Buxton said: “We know it is hard for children and young people to not be tempted to meet their friends at evenings and weekends - especially when they are allowed to be together all day in school."But we need them to play their part in reducing the spread of Covid-19. The spread of the virus is still very much real and happening, and now more than ever we need them to be following the rules too.”

Young people will still be allowed to trick or treat in Tier 2, but police have warned that it will be parents that get fined should young people be found not observing the rules.

Officers will approach any group of more than six, engage with them, explain the current guidance to them, and encourage them to follow it – enforcement will be a last resort.

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They have also warned that, given the age of the groups, it won’t be them that get issued with a fine.

Instead, this will go to their parents, who will have to pay within 28 days.

They have asked the Derbyshire public to encourage their children to not meet their friends in any groups larger than six this Halloween weekend.