The Metropolitan Police are set to hand out Covid fines to at least 15 people over the Downing Street party saga, the Mirror understands.
The first tranche of fixed-penalty notices are expected to come as soon as today, as the force's investigation into Partygate continues.
It is understood that the most controversial cases will not be dealt with as part of the first wave, which is believed to number between 15 and 20 people.
Boris Johnson is not expected to be among them - despite attending as many as six events being investigated by the police.
The penalties come months after the Mirror first revealed details of lockdown-reaching parties held as the rest of the country lived under strict Covid rules.
Scotland Yard launched a probe into 12 gatherings back in January, after initially saying it would not investigate.
The events included a notorious "bring your own booze" bash in the Downing Street garden in May 2020, a surprise get-together for Mr Johnson's birthday in June 2020, and a party in the PM's No11 flat in November 2020.
Mr Johnson previously admitted he was at the "bring your own booze" event for 25 minutes - claiming he believed it was a work event - while Downing Street said staff "gathered briefly" in the Cabinet Room to mark the Prime Minister's 56th birthday.
The Met Police said: “We’re not giving a running commentary and I would refer you to our statement from March 21 which is still on our website.”
Many Tory MPs have called for the Prime Minister to resign over the damning allegations, but some, including Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, have withdrawn their comments after Russia's invasion of Ukraine began.
It is understood outgoing Met Police chief Cressida Dick wants the investigation done and dusted before she leaves.
More than 100 police questionnaires had been sent out to people believed to have attended the rule-breaking parties.
The PM and Chancellor Rishi Sunak have completed questionnaires.
It means the PM could be slapped with fines of up to £10,000 if he is found to have broken the rules.
Downing Street has committed to disclosing if Mr Johnson receives a fine but other individuals are not expected to be named.
Tory minister Will Quince admitted that gatherings which took place across Downing Street and Whitehall during the pandemic "shouldn't have happened".
Education minister Will Quince said it would be "inappropriate" to comment on the reports - but he told Sky News: "I entirely understand why you asked that question. I understand the huge public interest.
"I completely understand the considerable upset caused, the events that took place shouldn't have happened.
"But I hope you'll understand that both as an education minister but more importantly, as there's ongoing live Metropolitan Police investigation, it's just not appropriate that I comment."
Mr Quince refused to say if the PM should resign if he was fined for breaking lockdown rules but underlined that Mr Johnson had committed to publish the full report by Sue Gray into the scandal "as soon as the Metropolitan Police have concluded their investigation".
