Scotland Yard detectives are interviewing key witnesses as part of an investigation into alleged lockdown-breaching gatherings at Downing Street and Whitehall.
More than 100 questionnaires were sent to those who were suspected to be attending the gatherings.
Scotland Yard announced that it has not yet issued any penalties.
At the time of the investigation’s launch in January,, police said it had over 500 documents and 300 photographs to examine that had been gathered by Sue Gray, the top civil servant who headed the Cabinet Office’s investigation into the claims.
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A number of Conservative MPs are now back tracking on their call for the PM’s resignation over the accusations.
At this weekend’s Spring conference, Brexit Opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg dismissed the investigation as “fluff” in light of the Ukraine crisis.
A Scotland Yard spokesman explained in a statement: “Detectives investigating allegations of breaches of Covid-19 regulations in Downing Street and Whitehall have begun to interview people, as witnesses, as part of their ongoing enquiries.
“In addition to the detailed review of all available material, including returned questionnaires, detectives from the Operation Hillman investigation team have started interviewing key witnesses.
“To date, over 100 questionnaires have been sent out asking the recipients about their participation in alleged gatherings.
“The questionnaires provide recipients with the opportunity to give an account of their involvement and the responses form part of the investigative material for the operation.
“Recipients are given seven days to respond. Based on the responses received so far, additional individuals have been identified and questionnaires have been sent to them.
“As the investigation continues, we may need to contact more people as further information comes to light.
“This investigation involves a significant amount of investigative material; the serving of over 100 questionnaires and the need to individually assess every response.
“The offences under consideration comprise a number of elements and the legislation itself changed between the event dates. We are making every effort to speed up the investigation.
“As yet, we have not made any referrals to the ACRO Criminal Records Office for the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices. However, every questionnaire response is being assessed alongside all available evidence, and should this reach the evidential threshold, then referrals will be made.”
