Swindon Magistrates’ Court has this morning granted a closure order for a property in central Swindon following a number of illegal gatherings there.
Making an application to the court, an officer from Wiltshire Police told district judge Joanna Dickens that they had attended the address seven times since January.
The force claims the female tenant of the property, in Whitehead Street, had hosted a number of house parties. On one occasion, approximately 25 people were in attendance. She has been issued three COVID fines this year.
House parties are banned under the current coronavirus regulations.
Satisfied that the lady in question had held parties on a regular basis and has ignored warnings issued by police, Judge Dickens granted the closure order for three months.
Closure orders make it against the law for anyone, other than the occupant or emergency services, to enter said property without permission from the court. Anyone found within the address illegally faces arrest.
This is the first closure order granted in relation to breaches of COVID-19 regulations.