Herts police are cracking down on those who break lockdown rules - with 50 Covid related fines issued along with 500 verbal warnings to do with ensuring people stick to coronavirus-combatting guidelines.

Among the more high profile breeches of Covid restrictions have been a music event on an industrial estate, a wedding party and other house parties.

In other incidents they have found shoppers who have refused 'point blank' to fear face coverings.

Up to 40 police officers at a time have been conducting dedicated Covid patrols around our county – focussed around shops and transport hubs.

Since October the have issued 500 Covid-related verbal warnings – issuing around 50 fines or Fixed Penalty Notices.

Chief Superintendent Matt Nicholls, from Hertfordshire Police, said that as cases were rising so was enforcement.

But he stressed that, in general, people across Hertfordshire had complied with the rules and had 'done the right thing'.

"What we are seeing is most people – once challenged by police officers – will comply," said Ch Supt Nicholls.

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"It's those repeat offenders in repeat locations which we will target."

Since the start of the pandemic, the force has adopted an approach of 'engage, explain and encourage' – before enforcement.

Ch Supt Nicholls says that when challenged it has been clear that some people had not fully understood some of the rules and regulations.

But now he says: "We feel now that nine or 10 months in, the public know there is a public health crisis."