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Police break up gatherings across England as some revellers claim they 'didn't know there was a pandemic'

Officers posted a picture of the pint glasses after breaking up a gathering in a pub in Dalston. (Met Police)
Officers posted a picture of the pint glasses after breaking up a gathering in a pub in Dalston. (Met Police)

Police forces across England were forced to break up a number of gatherings that breached national lockdown rules on Saturday night.

Officers from Hampshire Police said they broke up a party at a residential address in Basingstoke where attendees claimed they “didn’t know about the pandemic”.

A spokesperson for the force tweeted: “Officers attended address in Basingstoke following several reports of a party at an address, and breaching lockdown guidelines.

“The occupants were spoken to and claimed to be unaware of the global pandemic, as they never watch the news!”

They added: “#ThereAreNoWords”.

Police in London also shut down a gathering inside a pub on Saturday night.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police said they were called to a reports of a pub with customers inside in Dalston, east London.

In a tweet, police said “Reports to a pub open in #E8 On arrival a large group inside.

“COVID fixed penalty notice given to everyone present!”

Watch: Revellers flout lockdown rules with snowball fight in Leeds

They later tweeted a reminder for the general public to follow the government’s lockdown guidance, adding that the rules “have been put in place to protect you and others”.

“Last night officers from @MPSHackney came across many people who were in breach of the COVID-19 regulations. These regulations have been put in place to protect you and others,” the tweet read.

Read more: What you can and can't do under current lockdown rules

“It doesn’t matter how creative your excuse is, if it’s not one of the reasonable excuses you risk being fined. Please stay at home.”

Elsewhere, Dorset Police were forced to issue fines for a a group of people who drove 170 miles “for exercise” on the Jurassic Coast.

The force said the group included seven people who travelled from Coventry to Durdle Door, near Lulworth, Dorset.

Two people were issued fixed penalty notices over the trip and officers branded the behaviour “completely unacceptable”.

A force spokesman added: "Our officers, including our dedicated COVID-19 patrol officers, will continue to use a '4 Es' approach of escalation, where they will engage, explain and encourage people to follow the regulations.”

Watch: What you can and can't do during England's third national lockdown