Met Police set to question more than 50 people thought to have been involved in Downing Street lockdown parties
10.02.2022 - 00:27
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Met Police are set to question more than 50 people as their investigations into lockdown parties at No10 continue.
Scotland Yard has announced that detectives are set to send out questionnaires to people believed to have taken part.
Before the end of this week, officers from what has been named 'Operation Hillman' will begin contacting more than 50 people thought to have been involved in the events, which are the subject of police inquiries.
It is understood they will ask for their account of what happened with seven days.
READ MORENew photo shows Boris Johnson near open bottle of bubbly at Downing Street lockdown Christmas quiz
The announcement came after the Metropolitan Police said they would be widening their inquiries to cover a quiz night in No 10 on December 2020.
This came after a photograph emerged of Boris Johnson and colleagues near an open bottle of sparkling wine.
In a statement the Met said the questionnaire would ask for “an account and explanation of the recipient’s participation” in an event which is the subject of police inquiries.
Recipients will be advised that the questionnaire has “formal legal status” and that their response is required within seven days. In most cases the contact will be by email.
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“It should be noted that being contacted does not mean a fixed penalty notice will necessarily be issued to that person,” the statement said.
“Nevertheless, if following an investigation, officers believe it is appropriate because the Covid regulations have been breached without a reasonable excuse, a fixed penalty notice will normally be