Police have launched an investigation after six people from different households held a house party in Popley.

Officers were called to Guernsey Close on Saturday night after reports of the party, which went against the current lockdown restrictions.

According to police, the occupants said they were unaware of the pandemic, adding they "didn't watch the news".

Hampshire Constabulary have now opened an investigation "with a view to reporting the individuals involved for summons following a Covid breach".

So what could happen next?

Well the as-yet-unnamed sextet could appear before magistrates soon, charged with breaching regulations, should police deem it appropriate.

England's third lockdown became law on January 6, after MPs retrospectively voted in favour of the toughened restrictions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was necessary because of a spike in Covid cases and had "no choice" but to lock us down for the third time in ten months.

The regulations said people must stay at their home, with the exception of the following reasons:

  • Shopping for essentials such as food and medicine
  • Meeting your support or childcare bubble
  • Children can move between separated parents
  • Working or volunteering where it is "unreasonable" to work from home.
  • Education, training, childcare, medical appointments and emergencies
  • Religious worship
  • Moving house

Also, meeting other people not in your household or support bubble indoors was banned, and you are only able to meet one other person outside for the purpose of exercise.

The government say that police can take action against you if you meet other people.

The government website says: "You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.

"If you hold, or are involved in holding, an illegal gathering of over 30 people, the police can issue fines of £10,000."

However, Hampshire Constabulary have said that they will only issue FPNs as a last resort.

After Hampshire was put into strict Tier Four measures, Assistant Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said that they "will continue to police the pandemic as we have done".

“We have seen this year that the pandemic is an ever-changing picture but our policing response is able to adapt to this each time," she said to The Gazette on Boxing Day.

"Our approach throughout the pandemic has been to engage, explain and encourage people to comply with the regulations, and this will continue. We will use common sense and discretion to determine what is reasonable and we will enforce when blatant breaches are committed.

“We will continue to work with our partner agencies to keep you and your communities safe, and we will continue with Covid-19 related patrols and be visible as we can be in your neighbourhoods.

“We are still all in this together and if we continue to work together we can limit the spread of infection and ultimately, save lives."