Takeaway served with £1,000 fixed penalty for breaching coronavirus restrictions

Environmental health officers from Rugby Borough Council visited the takeaway with officers from Warwickshire Police on 10 October after receiving reports customers were inside after 10pm waiting to be served.

Under restrictions introduced by the Government to help combat the spread of the coronavirus, all businesses selling food and/or drink must close at 10pm.

Takeaway restaurants can only operate a delivery service after 10pm.

Following the inspection, the takeaway owner was issued with a £1,000 fixed penalty notice (FPN) by the council's environmental protection team.

The owner was also served with a £100 FPN by Warwickshire Police for failing to wear a face covering.

Since the introduction of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020, the council's environmental protection team has been working closely with businesses in the borough to ensure compliance with the restrictions.

The team offers advice so businesses can operate in a COVID-secure setting and carries out regular inspections to ensure regulations have been followed.

Businesses can be issued with a FPN of £1,000 for a breach of the regulations, rising to a maximum of £10,000 for repeated breaches.

Cllr Howard Roberts, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for environment and public realm, said: "We know businesses have endured an incredibly difficult year and we have worked hard to protect our economy and support business by distributing government grants and rate reliefs.

"Our environmental protection team has been pro-active in promoting the coronavirus restrictions and has helped businesses understand the legislation and comply with it.

"However, during this public health crisis, we all have a part to play to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, and businesses must put the safety and welfare of customers first.

"The overwhelming majority of businesses in the borough do just that, but in cases where the regulations have been breached, we have a duty to take enforcement action."

Business owners can find guidance on complying with the coronavirus regulations on the council's website: www.rugby.gov.uk/coronavirus

Residents can report businesses which breach the regulations by emailing hs@rugby.gov.uk or calling the council on (01788) 533533.