A TAKEAWAY in Hereford has been fined £1,000 for breaking coronavirus rules – but police are declining to say which one.

West Mercia Police confirmed officers fined a takeaway in Hereford in the early hours of Friday (October 9) after it was still serving customers at 1am.

Current coronavirus rules mean takeaways, along with all hospitality, leisure and entertainment businesses, have to close from 10pm to 5am, although they are still allowed to deliver.

Firms who do not comply can be fined up to £10,000 or closed, and people risk £200 penalties for not wearing a masks or breaching the rule of six. Thirteen fines have been handed out in Herefordshire in total.

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Chief Inspector Edd Williams said: “This is one of 13 fines (up to 12 October) we’ve handed out in Herefordshire since the change in rules on September 14.

“Others have been issued to shops and takeaways where staff haven’t been wearing masks and seven people were given fines after socialising together in one of the city’s car parks.

“Thankfully, the vast majority of people in the county are following the rules and it’s so important that we keep doing so to keep ourselves, our families and the community safe.”

Despite the fines for businesses not following rules designed to protect public health, College of Policing guidance says forces should not name individuals.

“Identities of people dealt with by cautions, speeding fines and other fixed penalties – out-of-court disposals – should not be released or confirmed,” it says.

“Forces should say that ‘a man’ or ‘a woman’ has been dealt with and only release general details of the offence.”