Yorkshire pubs open in lockdown so customers can watch Six Nations and play pool
A further 71 tickets were also handed out over the week in North Yorkshire for house parties and indoor gatherings
All pubs and hospitality establishments are required to stay closed during the current lockdown
A number of pubs in North Yorkshire were fined for opening over the weekend to "welcome customers in to watch rugby or play pool".
Sergeant Mike Walker, North Yorkshire Police's lead for the response to the coronavirus pandemic, was giving an update on the fines handed out in the county at a press conference this morning (Wednesday) of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum.
Sgt Walker said that a number of pubs - which were not identified - had opened to show matches from the opening weekend of the Six Nations and that there was also continuing problems with house parties being hosted in the county.
The last week had been "the busiest in terms of enforcement since the third national lockdown began", with 169 fixed penalty notices issued.
Of these, the most was 76 issued in Scarborough, while 37 were issued in York.
Sgt Walker said: "Sadly there was a couple of incidents where pubs decided to open their doors and welcome customers in to watch rugby or play pool.
"House parties also continue to be an issue that officers have to deal with. 71 tickets were issued to indoor gatherings this week.
Gang of 11 from Manchester caught on day trip to Whitby to 'look at the Abbey'
North Yorkshire officials give update on cases of South African covid variant in Scarborough
"Again, I can't stress enough the risks these people are taking, both in terms of contracting the virus or by spreading it to those who they are meeting with.
"As we know, one in three people show no signs of having covid so you may think you pose no threat to your friends by meeting up but you really do not know if that's the case.
"Is meeting up socially over a beer really worth the risk? That's what people should be asking themselves."
Asked if he could share further details on the pubs that opened, Walker said: "Not at this time. I will speak to my local licensing teams and local authority teams in terms of the actual enforcement action taken against the business premises."
In total, 640 FPAs have been issued since the start of the third lockdown and 2,532 since March 2020 when the pandemic first started.
Sgt Walker also said that the force had a "challenging week" ahead with schools breaking up for half term.
He said: "Many families will be wondering what to do with the kids to pass the time. What I would say is 'stick to the rules'.
"Now is not the time to take your family or your children to the coast or to the Dales. We are still in national lockdown and there is a requirement for all of us to stay at home and only make journeys where necessary and when we do, to stay local."
Sgt Walker added that people shouldn't be travelling miles to exercise and should stay local.
The force has stepped up patrols in the last week to try and catch more people flouting the lockdown rules.
Man caught red handed stealing two diggers and a woodchipper
226 West Yorkshire surnames that could owe you an absolute fortune
North Yorkshire Police
North Yorkshire County Council