Two men each fined £10,000 after Woodhouse Moor snowball fight

Police issued the fines after investigating the cause of the gathering


Two men have been fined £10,000 each in connection with the Woodhouse Moor, Hyde Park snowball fight in Leeds earlier this month.

West Yorkshire Police said the men, aged 20 and 23, had caused “a significant and completely unnecessary risk” to those who took part by organising the event.

Ch Supt Damien Miller said the event on 14 January had been a “blatant breach” of the rules: “We take absolutely no pleasure in handing out such heavy fines to these two young men, but their actions encouraged hundreds of people to be in close proximity to each other,” he said.

The police said the 23-year-old had previously been fined for mixing households, but were reluctant to say more about how the event was organised.

The Leeds Tab were told by an organiser it was accidentally encouraged by a Facebook group post and event that spiralled out of control.

The snowball fight attracted media attention earlier in the month.

According to the BBC, fines of £10,000 can be issued for gatherings of 30 people, or more, and it is against the law to meet socially with anyone outside of your household or support bubble.