Twenty fines are set to be issued over alleged lockdown-busting parties held in government buildings, police have said.
The Metropolitan Police said on Tuesday that investigators will begin to refer the notices to the ACRO Criminal Records Office, which would be responsible for issuing the fines. But the Metropolitan Police has not informed No 10 that Boris Johnson is among the people referred to for fixed penalty notices, Downing Street has said.
It is not thought Mr Johnson is among those set to receive fines, and the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We’ve said we’ll update if that were to occur, but our position has not changed.” It is expected that further fines could be issued as officers continue to go through the evidence gathered.
READ MORE: Residents warned as Manchester bin strike hitting 220,000 homes could go ahead
He said it was “important to note” where the police were in the process in referring the cases to the ACRO Criminal Records Office, which would be responsible for issuing the penalties. Asked if the Met therefore had not informed No 10 about whether the PM was one of the referrals, the spokesman said: “That’s correct.”
The force earlier said: “The investigation into allegations of breaches of Covid-19 regulations in Whitehall and Downing Street has now progressed to the point where the first referrals for fixed penalty notices (FPN) will be made to ACRO Criminal Records Office.
“We will today initially begin to refer 20 fixed penalty notices to be issued for breaches of Covid-19 regulations. The ACRO Criminal Records Office will then be responsible for issuing the FPNs to the individual following the referrals from the MPS.
“We are making every effort to progress this investigation at speed and have completed a number of assessments. However, due to the significant amount of investigative material that remains to be assessed, further referrals may be made to ACRO if the evidential threshold is made.”
Beyond the Prime Minister, it is not anticipated that the names of those who receive fines over any partygate involvement would be released, even if they were members of Boris Johnson’s family or office, No 10 said.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The identities of people dealt with in this way would not be released or confirmed, that’s what the Met themselves have made clear.
“Obviously recognising the significant public interest in the Prime Minister we are committed to updating should that occur in his case.”
But he said this would not apply to others in the PM’s family or his office.
Asked if Downing Street staff had been asked to tell No 10 if they received a fixed penalty notice, he said: “No, as you know, there is a process here and the Met themselves set that out, obviously a number of officials – not just in Downing Street but beyond – took part in Sue Gray’s investigation where they provided information. But as relates to this specific process, no they would not.”
They would however be asked to update their vetting information depending on their security clearance.
