Sandwell restaurateurs fined after Covid-19 breach

The owners of Nemrut Restaurant Ltd in Lightwoods Road, Sandwell have been fined £200 after they failed to ensure their restaurant complied with Covid-19 safety restrictions. 

According to local council reports, police in the area were forced to fine the pair after officers “discovered diners inside the restaurant”. This was a breach of current trading rules as Sandwell is under Tier 3, meaning pubs, cafes and restaurants are only permitted to provide takeaway services.  

The West Midlands Police said they issued the fine to ensure the owners “comply with Covid-19 rules in the future”.

Martin Hurcomb from West Midlands Police said: “Christmas this year is very different but no matter how tempting it may be, we urge people not to gather indoors and we ask businesses to abide by the government restrictions.

“Our officers’ approach remains to positively, politely and proactively, engage, explain and encourage people to follow the rules in the first instance so that all members of our communities are kept safe.”

He added: “We will continue to take a proportionate and common sense approach to policing the West Midlands – we don’t intend to intrude on private spaces but we are counting on you to act responsibly before, during and after the festive season. 

“We will only resort to enforcement when we cannot be satisfied that a reasonable excuse exists and other members of the public are being unnecessarily put at risk.”