ONE of Cumbria’s most senior police officers has warned anyone who does not self-isolate with Covid symptoms will be fined.

Assistant chief constable Andy Slattery sent the message as police were given powers to fine people who do not comply with new regulations, including mandatory two-week isolation.

Officers now have the power to fine repeat rule-breakers up to £10,000, with people across England legally required to self-isolate from this week if they test positive for coronavirus or are contacted by the test and trace service.

ACC Slattery said the enforcement would be ‘intelligence-led’ but officers were not asking people in Cumbria to ‘spy on their neighbours’.

“The financial penalty for those who ignore such an instruction is high but reflects the seriousness of the offence," he said. "Those who leave their self-isolation whilst infectious put the lives of other people in their community at risk. It is an unacceptable act, particularly at a time when the number of infections is rising rapidly. People who are not self-isolating are taking risks with people’s lives.”

Over the weekend one pub in Carlisle fell foul of the new 10pm curfew after serving drinks past the newly-imposed closing time.

The officer said there were no incidents of the sort in Barrow but that police were investigating a lack of social distancing at a ‘licensed premises’. Videos circulated of drinkers dancing in a beer tent at the Barrow Raiders ground, prompting the club’s chairman to apologise. Patrols will continue outside pubs at 10pm.