The Met Police has confirmed that 20 fines have been issued in relation to the partygate breaches of covid rules at Downing Street.
Further fines may be issued but the identities of the those receiving the fixed-penalty fines is not to be issued by the police.
The Metropolitan Police said 20 fixed penalty notices will be referred to the ACRO Criminal Records Office, which will then be responsible for issuing the fines.
It added more referrals may be made in the future.
In a statement, Scotland Yard said: “The investigation into allegations of breaches of COVID-19 regulations in Whitehall and Downing Street has now progressed to the point where the first referrals for fixed penalty notices (FPN) will be made to ACRO Criminal Records Office.
“We will today initially begin to refer 20 fixed penalty notices to be issued for breaches of Covid-19 regulations. The ACRO Criminal Records Office will then be responsible for issuing the FPNs to the individual following the referrals from the MPS.
“We are making every effort to progress this investigation at speed and have completed a number of assessments. However due to the significant amount of investigative material that remains to be assessed, further referrals may be made to ACRO if the evidential threshold is made.”
The force said it will not confirm the number of referrals made from each individual event it is investigating as providing this breakdown at this point could lead to the individuals involved being identified.
Labour’s deputy leader has said the war in Ukraine does not get Boris Johnson off the hook over the partygate saga.
Angela Rayner told Sky News: “The situation with Ukraine, that doesn’t negate the Prime Minister from lying to the British public and not following his own rules. If he’s found to have broken them then I don’t believe his position is tenable.
“I think it’s disgraceful and I don’t see how he can continue in his role when he’s been so… when he’s not told the truth to the British public.”
Rayner said Chancellor Rishi Sunak should also resign if fined.
She said: “There’s plenty other MPs out there that are willing to do the job and do it in the public interest.”
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