Met Police are set to question more than 50 people as their investigations into lockdown parties at No10 continue.
Scotland Yard has announced that detectives are set to send out questionnaires to people believed to have taken part.
Before the end of this week, officers from what has been named 'Operation Hillman' will begin contacting more than 50 people thought to have been involved in the events, which are the subject of police inquiries.
It is understood they will ask for their account of what happened with seven days.
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The announcement came after the Metropolitan Police said they would be widening their inquiries to cover a quiz night in No 10 on December 2020.
This came after a photograph emerged of Boris Johnson and colleagues near an open bottle of sparkling wine.
In a statement the Met said the questionnaire would ask for “an account and explanation of the recipient’s participation” in an event which is the subject of police inquiries.
Recipients will be advised that the questionnaire has “formal legal status” and that their response is required within seven days. In most cases the contact will be by email.
“It should be noted that being contacted does not mean a fixed penalty notice will necessarily be issued to that person,” the statement said.
“Nevertheless, if following an investigation, officers believe it is appropriate because the Covid regulations have been breached without a reasonable excuse, a fixed penalty notice will normally be issued.
“We understand the interest in and impact of this case, and are progressing the investigation at pace. We are committed to completing our investigations proportionately, fairly and impartially.”
Sue Gray’s interim report last week disclosed that police were investigating 12 different events in No 10 and Whitehall over the course of 2020 and 2021 for possible breaches of Covid rules.
The Met said the 'Operation Hillman' special inquiry team was continuing to examine more than 500 documents and 300 images provided to them by the Cabinet Office.
It warned that there may be a need to contact further people in the coming days and weeks should they be identified as having taken part in an event that potentially breached regulations.
