POLICE have warned against complacency after revealing they have issued a 'disappointing' 34 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) in the past week for Covid rule breaches in North Yorkshire.

Chief Inspector Charlotte Bloxham, North Yorkshire Police's operational lead for the Coronavirus pandemic, said that the majority of FPNs were issued for indoor gatherings.

They were mainly issued in the Scarborough area, but three were handed out in York and four in the Harrogate district.

North Yorkshire Police has issued 41 FPNs since the easing of Coronavirus restrictions on April 12. 

“This is disappointing considering last week we had cause to issue just seven notices," said Chief Inspector Bloxham. 

“We understand that people are desperate to see family and friends. But we ask that just like the vast majority of the people of North Yorkshire, that you please adhere to the regulations that prevent indoor gatherings until the Roadmap out of lockdown has succeeded and we are free to meet up once again.

“The virus is much more likely to spread in an indoor setting and why it is so important to keep following the health protection regulations and the guidance around washing hands, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distance.

“Our town and city centres are much busier now than they have been in recent times, as well in the tourist spots along the coast and in the countryside.

"Our plea to ensure we can keep the Roadmap on track is not to become complacent and not to jeopardise all the work we’ve put in to get to this point."