Around twelve individuals who were playing dominoes in a pub were fined for violating Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions.
When they stormed the building in Whitechapel, east London, Metropolitan Police officers said they discovered the party hidden in a dark room. A video released by the force showed the owner of the restaurant claiming that they were playing dominoes.
Police said he first tried to stall officers before claiming the people inside were workers.
A dozen individuals who had assembled to play games were all issued set penalty notices, while the Council of Tower Hamlets was asked to consider imposing a fine on the restaurant owner.
Chief Inspector Pete Shaw said: “The rules under Tier 4 are in place to keep all of us safe, and they do not exempt people from gathering to play games together in basements.
“The fact that these people hid from officers clearly shows they knew they were breaching the rules and have now been fined for their actions.”