Nine police officers have each been fined £200 ($270) for breaking Covid lockdown restrictions after they were pictured sitting in a cafe.
The officers were snapped by a member of the public inside The Chef House Kitchen in Greenwich, south east London on Saturday, 9 January.
Pictures showed several officers sitting at tables, despite rules banning gatherings and restaurants from allowing customers to sit in.
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A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "Nine Metropolitan Police officers have been fined for breaching Covid-19 legislation while on duty.
"Photos emerged online earlier this month which appeared to show a group of uniformed officers from the South East Basic Command Unit dining in a local cafe.
"Following an investigation, it was determined that the officers involved should be issued with fixed penalty notices to the value of £200 each."
At the time, officers were blasted by the passer-by as 'hypocritical' after reading about instances of members of the public being slapped with fines.
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Chief Superintendent Rob Atkin said: "Police officers are tasked with enforcing the legislation that has been introduced to stop the spread of the virus and the public rightly expect that they will set an example through their own actions.
"It is disappointing that on this occasion, these officers have fallen short of that expectation. It is right that they will pay a financial penalty and that they will be asked to reflect on their choices."
A spokesperson for The Chef House Kitchen told LADbible the pictures show police officers waiting to receive takeaway food rather than sitting down to eat with table service.
A spokesperson for Greenwich Borough Council said: "We are aware of concerns relating to the Chef House Kitchen in Bowater Road, SE18.
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"A prohibition notice reinforcing Covid-19 regulations has been issued to the owner by Royal Borough of Greenwich whilst further investigation continues."
The nine police officer aren't the only ones being fined for flouting the rules.
Over the weekend, Hampshire Police broke up an illegal get together only for those in attendance to claim they weren't aware of the coronavirus pandemic as they don't watch the news.
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Posting on Twitter, Hampshire Police said: "Officers attended address in Basingstoke following several reports of a party at an address, and breaching lockdown guidelines.
"The occupants were spoken to and claimed to be unaware of the global pandemic, as they never watch the news!"
And on Saturday (16 January), pictures emerged on Instagram of a house party in Salford where rulebreakers were toasting with champagne and bottles of Corona beer.
Police used the images to four fines. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "Shortly after 8.30am on Saturday 16 January police received a report of a breach of Covid regulation at a property on Deansgate.
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"Officers found no evidence of a breach at that address but their investigations established that people had gathered at an apartment on Greengate in Salford.
"Four Fixed Penalty Notices were issued to attendees of the party."
Featured Image Credit: SWNS
Topics: UK News, News, Coronavirus, UK