The UK government has confirmed that members of the public could be handed fines of as much as £10,000 for failing to comply with coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions.
Fines will start at £1,000 and subsequently rise to £10,000 for repeat offenders.
This includes those who refuse to self-isolate, those who stop others from self-isolating – such as an employer who asks a staff member to come into work in violation of an order – and breaches of the rule of six / organised large gatherings.
Penalties also apply to people who fail to quarantine for 14 days after returning home from a country on the UK’s quarantine list.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “People who choose to ignore the rules will face significant fines. We need to do all we can to control the spread of this virus, to prevent the most vulnerable people from becoming infected, and to protect the NHS and save lives.”
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So, what exactly can you be fined for under the latest lockdown restrictions?
Rule of Six
As of 14th September 2020, new laws came into force banning groups of six or more gathering inside or outside in England, but this does not apply to areas where tighter local lockdown restrictions already apply, including a number of areas in Greater Manchester and the North West region.
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Those who are found to be in breach of the Rule of Six can be dispersed by police and issued with a fine.
Fines start at £100 and will double for each further offence up to £3,200.
Exceptions to the rule include COVID-safe workplaces, educational settings and permitted private gatherings eg: weddings and funerals.
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Face Coverings
The wearing of a face covering is a mandatory requirement in all supermarkets, shops and public transport and is advised in all settings where necessary social-distancing cannot be carried out.
Under these new regulations, it is stated that fines of up to £100 will be enforced by police officers for those whole fail to comply.
This fine will be reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.
As officially named by the UK government, people who fall into a number of categories are exempt from wearing a face covering, but must be able to provide necessary proof if challenged on this.
Facilitating Large Gatherings
The UK government announced last month that police in England have been given the power to distribute fines to the organisers of illegal gatherings.
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Those responsible could be hit with five-figure penalties for playing their part in arranging events with more than 30 people.
Under this new legislation, fines can potentially rise up to £10,000.
Refusal to Self-Isolate
People will be required by law to self-isolate from 28th September 2020.
New fines for those breaching self-isolation rules will start at £1,000 – bringing this in line with the penalty for breaking quarantine after international travel – but could increase to up to £10,000 for repeat offences and for “the most egregious breaches”.
People handed £10,000 maximum fines can include those preventing others from self-isolating, eg: employers.
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Speaking on the matter, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“The best way we can fight this virus is by everyone following the rules and self-isolating if they’re at risk of passing on coronavirus, and so nobody underestimates just how important this is, new regulations will mean you are legally obliged to do so if you have the virus or have been asked to do so by NHS Test and Trace.”
From 28 September people will be required by law to self-isolate, those breaking the rules face fines starting at £1,000, increasing up to £10,000.
The UK government has announced the introduction of a new £500 Test and Trace Support payment for those on low incomes who are required by NHS Test and Trace to remain at home to help stop the spread of the virus.
More information on the support available can be found here.
What are the differences in fines across the UK?
Those aged 18 and over in England can be fined £100 for the first offence, which can be lowered to £50 if paid within 14 days and then double on each repeat offence up to a maximum of £3,200.
This differs elsewhere though as in Scotland, people aged 16 and over can be fined £60 for each further offence up to a maximum of £960, and people aged 18 and over in Wales and Northern Ireland can be fined £60 for the first offence, which is lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days and doubled for each repeat offence up to a £960 maximum.
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For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
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News
Teen sentenced after deliberately driving into a female police officer in Stockport
Emily Sergeant
A teen who deliberately drove into a female police officer at a retail park Stockport earlier this year has been sentenced.
Harvey Bell was at a retail park on Wilmslow Road in Cheadle back on 25 January 2025 when he seriously injured a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer during a shocking incident – which left the officer requiring hospital treatment.
At the time, the 19-year-old from Knutsford was present while police were investigating reports of class C drug use in a car park.
Police parked in front of an Audi and the officer signalled for Bell to remain stationary and turn the engine off, but instead he reversed, and as the officer approached the front windscreen, Bell drove at the officer, knocking her to the ground.
He then proceeded to drive over her legs with both sets of wheels, before heading out of the car park at speed.
#JAILED | A man who deliberately drove into a police officer in Stockport has been jailed.
Harvey Bell (12/08/2005) has been sentenced to 31 months in a Young Offenders Institute and was disqualified from driving for two years.
— Stockport Police (GMP) (@GMPStockport) June 4, 2025
Bell was subsequently arrested the following day and made no comment in his police interview, but then went on to plead guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, as well as possession of cannabis on 27 March 2025.
The teen appeared at Manchester Crown Court this week where he was sentenced to 31 months in a Young Offenders Institute, and was also disqualified from driving for two years – which will take effect when he is released.
“What [Bell] did to me is permanently in the back of my mind, every call I go to, I feel the apprehension, the fear that any incident, no matter how innocuous it appears, can end with being assaulted or hurt,” the officer explained in a powerful victim impact statement read in court.
“This is an unseen result of Bell’s assault on me.”
She continued: “I know that Bell’s abhorrent behaviour is an exception, and the majority of the public we serve do not wish us harm, but assaults on police need to stop. An attack on a police officer is an attack on us all.
“Bell is a danger to society and had total disregard for my life.”
Featured Image – GMP
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IKEA announces decision to close popular Greater Manchester site
Emily Sergeant
It’s the end of the road for one of IKEA’s popular Greater Manchester sites.
The Swedish furniture giant has announced its decision to close its ‘Plan and Order Point’ over in Stockport in a couple of weeks time.
The store – which is located in Stockport town centre’s Merseyway Shopping Centre – launched to huge success back in March 2023, and at the time, was the second of this ‘test and trial’ format to open in the UK, becoming a smaller space dedicated to kitchen and home planning, as well as ordering items.
IKEA says the closure comes as a result of ‘valuable learnings’ which plan to take this conceptual format in a direction to ‘better suit the needs of UK customers’.
IKEA is closing its close popular Stockport site this month / Credit: Jon Super (via IKEA)
Since the opening of the Stockport Plan and Order Point, IKEA claims it has seen an increased demand for Click and Collect services, a desire by customers to shop a smaller selection of home furnishing accessories, as well as the ability to return goods to physical IKEA units, and this is all something which the current location is unable to offer.
Learning from this change in consumer habits, the company says its future Plan and Order Point openings – including in those in other northern cities like Hull and York – will offer these services.
IKEA says it also remains ‘committed’ to trialling new formats, such as its upcoming small stores, one of which will open in nearby Chester later this year.
Luckily for IKEA fans, the retailer has confirmed that its major Greater Manchester store in Ashton-under-Lyne, as well as the neighbouring store in Warrington, will remain open as normal, offering all the services available at Stockport and more.
The Swedish furniture says the closure comes as a result of ‘valuable learnings’ about customer needs / Credit: Jon Super (via IKEA)
In addition to the upcoming opening of a smaller store in Chester, IKEA has revealed that the North West continues to be an area of interest for future expansion.
“After careful evaluation, we’ve made the difficult decision to close the IKEA Plan and Order Point at Merseyway Shopping Centre,” explained Salma Azad, who is one of IKEA’s Area Managers.
“In the two years since opening, we’ve taken valuable learnings, including how our customers prefer to meet IKEA, and we’ll take these insights into future openings, to serve shoppers in a more impactful way.”
Thanks to last year’s Click and Collect expansion, Stockport residents can now pick up purchases from Tesco Extra Stockport and Tesco Extra Stretford, as well as the Manchester store and the upcoming small store in Chester.
Stockport Plan and Order Point’s final day of trading will be on 16 June.
The Manc -
21st September 2020 
