‘It may be tempting, but please don’t’: Students warned against Paddy’s Day parties

Northumbria University has cautioned its students against holding house parties in celebration of St Patrick’s Day.

In his weekly email to all students, Deputy Vice Chancellor Peter Francis warned students that mixing between households was still illegal and would incur fines.

The email reminded students: “The stay-at-home advice from Government is still in place and house parties remain illegal in England – those attending house parties can be given an £800 fine, rising to a maximum of £6,400 for multiple offences”

According to government guidelines, organisers of gatherings can also be fined up to £10,000 if caught hosting people.

On top of police fines, students could also face disciplinary action, with Francis adding: “Last semester a significant number of fines were issued, and several students were expelled from Northumbria as result of their behaviour.”

This time last year, Northumbria Students’ Union cancelled their St Patrick’s Day events, resulting in students instead flocking to pubs and bars in the surrounding area. BBC News reported on these events in a report about students’ negligence towards coronavirus, much to the fury of students.

Northumbria University, Newcastle

The email also went on to give students advice about travelling home over the Easter break, and Francis was sympathetic to homesick students: “I know that some of you have been back on campus since January and you may want to go home and recharge. The Government have said you can travel home, provided you do so only once before 28 April. You can travel back to your term-time accommodation at any time.” Testing is also required as part of the protocol for returning to university.

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