Lockdown restrictions have now been in place for nearly an entire year.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared in front of the nation from Downing Street to implement a number of restrictions to combat “the biggest threat this country has faced for decades” on March 23, 2020.

The population was told to only leave their homes for a limited number of reasons, including to shop for basic necessities, one form of exercise a day, to travel to work where you cannot work from home and for and medical needs.

The vast majority have stuck tightly to the rules, with some having to go months without seeing some family and friends.

However, a small minority have faced hefty fines for breaching lockdown rules and, occasionally, for the most ridiculous or bizarre of reasons.

Below is a collection of the most outrageous excuses given to Metropolitan Police officers by those breaching lockdown rules.

Family drove 500 miles for 'a day out'

Near the Lake District, some petrol stations are charging a staggering 131.2p while others have a 114.3p rate
It was an expensive family day out

When encouraged to not travel beyond your local area for exercise, it is no surprise that police did not take kindly to a family making a 500-mile trip from London to the Lake District for a day out.

The family claimed they thought the trip was fine if they wore gloves and face masks, according to the officers that stopped them.

Lancashire Police tweeted: "A family stopped travelling to the Lake District for a day out? They thought if they wore masks and gloves this would be acceptable.

"Turned around and sent home with paperwork to remember their none essential journey."

You read more about it here.

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Two Londoners fined after crash in Brighton

The scene of the collision

Two Londoners were fined by police for breaking lockdown rules having crashed their car miles from home on March 11.

The pair had driven from London towards Brighton before crashing on the A27 and requiring the assistance of police.

Officers enquired as to why they were so far from home, but the response that they had “popped out for a drive” did little to help the situation.

You can read more about it here.

'Naked' couple filmed 'having sex' in South Norwood park

South Norwood Country Park

Arguably the most bizarre breach of lockdown was by a pair of Londoners who were filmed "having sex" in a Croydon park.

A "disgusted" jogger on his daily exercise through South Norwood Country Park spotted the pair in the middle of some reeds in the South London park.

You can read the full story here.

30 men playing cricket in Edgeware Park

Police caught up to 30 men playing cricket in Edgware park
Police caught up to 30 men playing cricket in Edgware park

The "ridiculous" moment up to 30 men were caught playing cricket despite social distancing rules by police was caught on camera.

Metropolitan Police officers from Kensal Green found 20-30 men in Chandos Park, breaking government rules. The men also fled the area immediately once they saw police approaching.

100-person rave discovered in Tower Hamlets

100 people are estimated to have travelled to the illegal archway rave on Tidworth Road

An illegal rave at a derelict railway arch in Tower Hamlets turned out to be an expensive one for party goers.

Around 10 people had broken into a railway arch and set up a makeshift party inside the derelict archway. They had used numerous wooden crates to build an improvised bar area.

Others soon joined, and it is estimated around 100 people had travelled to the railway arch for the illegal rave.

Car wash breached lockdown rules by opening twice

The car wash is on Horn Lane, Acton

Police had to take action against a car wash in Acton after it was found to be open for a second time.

The car wash, on Horn Lane, was previous caught flouting lockdown rules, which state any business that is not essential - such as supermarkets - should close.

However, officers found that it had again opened and was operating to the public as usual.

30-person drum and bass party held on Hackney boat

Around 30 people were found on the boat in Hackney

Police were called to 13 reports of a large number of people playing loud music on a boat on the River Lea travelling between Tottenham Lock and Hackney.

Officers found the vessel off Hackney Marshes at 4.20am with around 30 people on board.

A resident who lived on a canal boat nearby told the police they were woken up by drum and bass music and shouting.

Party at a Croydon barber shop

The party-goers were busted after 'loud music' could be heard from the barber shop

Police raided a barber shop in Croydon where an illegal party of 22 people was taking place in February.

Met Police officers were alerted when "loud music" was heard coming from Kiss Kuts barber shop on London Road, in West Croydon , at 11.45pm on February 19.

When the officers arrived they found 22 people, in what they called a 'clear evidence of breaches' and sent everyone home.

Police 'despair' as Londoners drive to Snowdon

The group from London were enjoying the view before the police found them

Officers in Wales stopped 10 people in two separate cars who had driven in convoy from London to climb the country’s highest peak.

They were all reported for breaching Covid-19 legislation.

In a statement, North Wales Police said: "We despair - we really do... Please, please, please stay home. The coronavirus is affecting every part of the UK, nowhere is immune to it.

"Now is not the time to come to the national park for a walk. The beautiful mountains will still be here and we will gladly welcome you all back once this is all over."

Men visit Gatwick Airport because they were 'bored'

A social distancing sign inside the North Terminal at Gatwick Airport on February 6, 2021 in London, England.
A social distancing sign inside the North Terminal at Gatwick Airport

Two men told officers they "didn't believe in Covid" and said they had travelled from London to Gatwick Airport because "they were bored" in the early hours of January 20.

The two 20-year-olds were stopped by police in the Upper Terminal forecourt of Gatwick's South Terminal. The pair were issued FPNs for travelling outside their area without a reasonable excuse.

Londoner lied to police about his dead mother

An individual stopped in Dorking for speeding initially told officers they were delivering food for their mother, having driven to the area from West London.

However, the person then admitted their mother was actually dead. They were, in fact, in the process of preparing a second home for their family in lockdown 1.

Police break up 250-guest 'secret' South London wedding

Old Kent Road, the venue where the celebration was discovered

Trying to pull of mission impossible by going ahead with a 250-guest wedding was inevitably going to fail.

Officers were called to a venue at 8.20pm on October 18 after concerned residents thought a burglary was being committed.

According to a spokesperson for the Met Police, the shutters at the front of the venue on the Old Kent Road, Southwark, were closed in what appeared to be an attempt to keep the party a secret.

A separate 150-guest wedding also broken up by police

Police in West London also broke up a wedding with more 150 people.

Officers were called to reports of a rave at a venue in Southall on Tuesday October 13 at around 6.10pm.

However, when they arrived they found it was actually a rule-breaking marriage celebration.

400 people found celebrating a wedding in Stamford Hill

Police discovered around 400 people gathered at the Yesodey Hatorah Secondary Girls School in Stamford Hill

The biggest and most blatant of all weddings, though, was a 400-guest event in Stamford Hill.



Nine Met Police officers caught dining together

This comes as more police are to be put on the streets to stop members of the public flouting rules
Police officers were caught dining together

They have spent the majority of the pandemic issuing advice and, as a last resort, reporting for summons those who have been breaching lockdown rules.

These officers, though, were fined on January 21 for breaking the law on lockdown restrictions after being caught dining in a café together.

Photos taken by a passer-by earlier in January showed multiple police cars parked outside the café, where the officers could be seen inside.

Police catch women having their nails done in a salon

Two women were caught having their nails done

Officers were called to a home in Croydon on Monday (January 18) following calls from members of the public who reported that they believed there was a makeshift nail bar taking appointments.

A nail salon was found operating out of an outbuilding at the bottom of the garden.

Inside was the owner of the business, a worker and two women who were having their nails done.

Police hand out fines after 100 people found at a funeral

Met Police officers were called to Clyde Road, Haringey, on January 14 following reports from members of the public who were concerned about the number of people at a gathering.

More than 100 people were found mourning the loss of a member of the traveller community.

Some people in attendance were consuming alcohol and became aggressive towards police when told to leave. Officers issued 42 fixed penalty notices and arrested one person on suspicion of an unrelated theft.

Police hand out more than £2,000 in Covid fines as they raid Valentine’s party

Valentine's party goers on the Peabody Estate were handed fines

Police officers handed out more than £2,000 in fines at a Valentine's Day party.

Met Police officers were called at 11pm on Saturday (February 13) to reports of a party being held in a flat on the Peabody Estate in Camberwell Green.

You can read more about the incident here.

31 Metropolitan Police officers fined £200 for having hair cut at London police station

A group of 31 Metropolitan Police officers allegedly had their hair cut by a professional barber while on duty at Bethnal Green Police Station.

The incident took place on Sunday, January 17 while the country was under strict lockdown measures, which prevented indoor mixing and banned non-essential services such as getting a haircut.