One-fifth of rule-breaking events found in South Wales were in area popular with students
POLICE issued over 60 fines in one weekend for people who attended seven separate house parties in Cathays.
South Wales Police gave 308 fines in the whole of South Wales between February 5 and 7.
This means that fines given out for Cathays house parties amounted to 20% of the total number issued.
On the previous weekend, police issued 34 fines for three house parties in the area.
At the time of the 2011 census, 70% of people living in Cathays were students.
Councillor Norma Mackie, who represents the ward of Cathays, said: “The Cathays Police and Shared Regulatory Services are extremely busy at this time trying to keep people safe.
“They should not have to spend their valuable time breaking up house parties organised by people who should know better.
“Young people might feel that catching COVID-19 might not be a problem as they might only have mild symptoms. That might be true for most young people but not for those who have underlying health conditions that they can pass the virus on to.
“They could also infect others they come into contact with, if not their friends and family then someone else’s and they are definitely putting the lives at risk of the officers who have to break up their parties.
“COVID-19 has now killed over 5,000 people in Wales – please don’t let your party add to that figure.”
Under the current coronavirus restrictions, it is illegal to meet people you do not live with indoors unless they are part of your support bubble.
You can only enter into a support bubble with an adult living alone or a household with a single responsible adult.
People caught breaking this rule can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £60, which can rise to £120 for repeated offences.
Chief Superintendent Andy Valentine said: “The vast majority of people are continuing to do the right thing and are making sacrifices to protect themselves, their loved ones and the NHS.
“We cannot afford to undo all the progress that has been made to date.
“Such flagrant breaches cannot be tolerated and we will continue to respond to concerns from our communities, carry out proactive patrols and work closely with our local authority partners on the Joint Enforcement Teams to ensure those who blatantly or repeatedly breach the rules are met with enforcement action.”
