Police break up 50-person gathering at community centre in lockdown breach

Despite lockdown restrictions, around 50 people were found in attendance

Police have shut down a gathering of around 50 people who were found at a community centre in Brighton on Friday evening. Despite England being in the grips of a second national lockdown for over a week now, Sussex police were called to Providence Place by a member of the public who had notified them of a potential breach of restrictions. Officers later confirmed there had indeed been a breach or the regulations, and issued a section 34 dispersal order to those in attendance. The gathering organiser was identified and has since been reported for summons for a breach of Regulation 10 of The Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020. "We’d like to thank the public for bringing this to our attention, enabling us to respond swiftly," a spokesperson for Sussex Police later said. "We continue to work with our communities and respond to those who disregard the regulations. "We’d also like to remind the public that we will continue to engage, explain and encourage people to follow the government guidelines on Coronavirus, and enforcement action will be taken if necessary."