Police were called to 58 parties across the capital on New Year’s Eve as some Londoners chose to flout Tier 4 restrictions designed to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The Metropolitan Police thanked the “majority of London” for staying at home amid surging Covid-19 infection rates.

However, the force said it was called to 58 raves and parties and issued 217 fines, with five party organisers slapped with the largest possible fine – £10,000.

In Redbridge, one of London’s worst affected boroughs with a current infection rate above 1,000 new cases a week per 100,000 people, police were called to several parties.

Officers patrolling in Clementswood and Loxford said they received “multiple calls about people having parties” and reports of people setting off fireworks in the street.

Police in Ilford attended two incidents involving New Year's celebrations.

The first was a house party in Westwood Road and the second a party in High Road.

A spokesperson for Redbridge MPS said: "Officers attended reports of house party and Covid breach in Westwood Road, Ilford. Found to be in breach, party dispersed and fine issued.

"Reports of House party in High Road, Ilford, resulted in officers attending and identifying Covid Breach. Those present dispersed and fine issued."

In Clayhall officers broke up a "car meet" and issued several fines.

On Twitter, a spokesperson for the policing team said: "Car meet in Tiptree Avenue, Clayhall, resulted in identification by officers in attendance of Covid breaches, anti-social behaviour and resulted in four fines issued to those present and found to in breach.”

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