Licensed premises found breaching Covid rules served with enforcement notices

The council served three Improvement Notices and one Immediate Restriction Notice, the latter requiring the premises to close for 48 hours or face a Fixed Penalty Notice of £4,000. The main issues encountered were some premises serving alcohol to customers without a substantial meal, and allowing multiple households to mix on the same table.

With Norfolk entering Tier 4 restrictions from Boxing Day, the council's Coronavirus Marshals are out and about in high footfall locations over the festive period, including between Christmas and New Year, in order to provide advice and guidance to those businesses which are open, as well as raise any matters for enforcement.

The marshals are also handing out Tier 4 advice posters to businesses to display in their windows, as well as a useful trading advice flyer for those non-essential retailers which plan to continue to operate for pre-ordered click-and-collect, mail order/phone order and delivery services. This can also be downloaded at www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/reopen-business-safely

Cllr Carl Smith, leader of the council, said: "With Norfolk entering Tier 4, these are very challenging times for everyone, but it is as important as ever that we all play our part as one community to help reduce the spread of the virus and save lives.

"All types and sizes of businesses are critical in that, whether allowed to stay open or required to close and looking to offer pre-ordered collection and delivery services from Boxing Day.

"Most businesses and licensed premises follow the rules well, and our Environmental Health Officers have been working closely with police to provide advice, answer questions and to try to encourage voluntary compliance where concerns are raised.

"Licensed premises should be able to prove to the Environmental Health Officers and the police that they are doing everything in their power to prevent household mixing within their premises, and we have seen some very good examples of this, as well as some bad.

"Public safety is our top priority, and this latest formal enforcement action sends a strong message that the council will continue to take action with police, where necessary, to help reduce the spread of Covid."

Nathan Clark, T/Supt of Great Yarmouth Police, said: "Many people have been playing their part and following the guidelines to keep each other safe. However, it was clear that there were some establishments/individuals who hadn't embraced the rules in the same spirit and alongside our colleagues from the borough council, enforcement has taken place where it was proportionate to do so."

Anyone concerned that a business in the borough might be breaking coronavirus regulations, or if you are a business who needs some advice, contact Environmental Services on health@great-yarmouth.gov.uk or 01493 846478.