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COVID-19: Snowball fight not a 'justifiable reason to be out of your house', police say

The threats to snowball-fighters come the same week England was plunged into a strict national lockdown.

Snow blankets the hills in Midhopestones, in the borough of Sheffield.
Image: Snowball fights could land you with a police fine
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People throwing snowballs in Shropshire have been warned they could be fined under COVID-19 regulations.

The safer neighbourhood team for Broseley and Wenlock in Shropshire tweeted on Friday: "There have been 2 reports of snowballs being thrown last night between 11 & 11:30pm.

"This is obviously not a justifiable reason to be out of your house, this behaviour is likely to result in a £200 Fixed Penalty Notice for breaking the lockdown rules."

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It later added: "The snowballs reported being thrown in Broseley last night between 11 & 11:30pm were being thrown at the addresses of vulnerable elderly residents.

"This behaviour is not acceptable at any time."

West Mercia Police have been contacted for comment.

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Figures released this morning show that West Mercia Police issued 748 coronavirus-related fines between 27 March and 20 December.

The threats to snowball-fighters come the same week England was plunged into a strict national lockdown, which banned the mixing of households and encouraged people to stay at home.

However, outdoor exercise or meeting one friend (socially-distanced) in a park or public space is deemed to be okay, following suggestions from the prime minister.

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During the first lockdown last spring, outdoor exercise was strictly enforced to once per day, and even sitting on a park bench or sunbathing could have seen people slapped with a fine.

Last weekend, Metropolitan Police handed fines out to a group playing dominoes in an east London restaurant, after they initially claimed they were staff members.