General restrictions, offences and fixed-penalty notices.
Step 3
As of 17 May 2021 all areas in England are subject to Step 3 restrictions.
General restrictions
Restrictions
Local authorities can issue directions. The police service will have a role in encouraging and, where necessary, enforcing the requirements of any direction issued by a local authority.
Offences
Attending premises in breach of a direction is not an offence. However, the person can be directed to leave. A constable can remove them, using reasonable force if necessary. Failure to comply with a reasonable instruction or obstructing removal is an offence.
FPN amounts
Where an offence is believed to have been committed and someone is over the age of 18, officers can issue a fixed-penalty notice for £200 payable within 28 days. This is reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days. The FPN amounts double for each subsequent offence. The fine amounts double for each subsequent offence, up to £6,400 for the sixth and subsequent offences.
Events
Restrictions
Local authorities can issue directions. The police service will have a role in encouraging and, where necessary, enforcing the requirements of any direction issued by a local authority.
Offences
Where an event is held in contravention of a direction, officers and PCSOs can:
- direct the event to stop
- direct a person to leave the event
- officers can remove a person from the event, using reasonable force if necessary
FPN amounts
Where an offence is believed to have been committed and someone is over 18 years old, officers can issue an FPN for £200 payable within 28 days. This is reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days. The FPN amounts double for each subsequent offence. The fine amounts double for each subsequent offence, up to £6,400 for the sixth and subsequent offences.
Public outdoor places
Restrictions
Local authorities can issue directions. The police service will have a role in encouraging and, where necessary, enforcing the requirements of any direction issued by a local authority.
Offences
If someone is using a space in contravention of a direction without reasonable excuse, officers and PCSOs can:
- direct that person to leave the place
- officers can remove that person from the place, using reasonable force if necessary
FPN amounts
Where an offence is believed to have been committed and someone is over the age of 18, officers can issue an FPN for £200 payable within 28 days. This is reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days. The FPN amounts double for each subsequent offence. The fine amounts double for each subsequent offence, up to £6,400 for the sixth and subsequent offences.
More on events
Details of attending and organising gatherings, including Section 63-type gatherings, can be found in the section of this guidance on groups.