A TOTAL of 13 fines were given over the past month as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

Wiltshire Police issued fines to those causing the greatest risk to public health, including gathering indoors.

Eight people aged between 19 and 28 were fined for a house party in Lennox Drive on April 9. Officers were called to the property at around 11.30m and found loud music playing, with various people hidden throughout the property and others having jumped out of windows before police got inside.

The force issued 17 formal warning to people for failing to adhere to the Government rules between April 5 and May 5.

They recorded 439 reports from members of the public as well as five Covid-related crimes and 14 Covid-related incidents.

Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills said: “As we approach the next milestone in the Government’s easing of lockdown restrictions, with some indoor hospitality reopening on 17 May, I would like to thank our communities for their ongoing cooperation.

“Over the past month we have focused our proactive patrols on licensed premises, as well as public spaces and potential rave locations, and I’m pleased to report that we have not seen any major problems.

“We are now looking ahead to the summer and preparing a comprehensive plan for dealing with issues which may fall out of the re-emergence of a night-time economy, as bars, pubs and nightclubs return to normal.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson added: “All the signs from the Government show that we are expecting to follow the roadmap outlined by the Prime Minister earlier this year, with the easing of further restrictions on both 17 May and 21 June.

“I would like to continue to remind everyone to stay safe, take necessary precautions and continue to do your bit to limit the spread of Covid-19