The first fines have been issued to people in government for breaking COVID rules at the height of lockdown.

Officials are understood to have received fines thought to be in connection with an event in the Cabinet Office on 18 June 2020.

The fines, worth £50, have been sent to individuals by email. The names of those involved have not been disclosed.

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The event in June 2020 is understood to have been a leaving party for a Number 10 official and was held in the Cabinet Office building at 70 Whitehall.

The decision to issue fines in connection with one of the lower profile events is significant.

Sky News understands that the Metropolitan Police investigation has been slowed down by the need to consult the Crown Prosecution Service.

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A CPS lawyer would be needed if the recipient of a fine decided to fight and take the issue to a magistrates’ court.

The CPS can ask the police to do more work, or direct them to collect more evidence until it is satisfied it could prosecute a case.

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Sky News understands that the Metropolitan Police did not fully consult the CPS at the start of the investigation.

The CPS could have questions about the unusual questionnaires used to extract more information from those in government.

Any decision by a senior political figure to challenge a fine would be a huge moment for the Metropolitan Police.

Downing Street is refusing to say that the issuing of fines represents proof of criminality – which has been taken in parts of Whitehall as a sign Boris Johnson would appeal if he was personally fined.

Two Cabinet ministers – justice secretary Dominic Raab and international trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan – have conceded that the penalties meant laws were broken.

The Met’s investigation covers 12 gatherings in 2020 and 2021.

Boris Johnson was one of 100 individuals who were sent formal legal questionnaires related to the investigation, as was chancellor Rishi Sunak.

The force has not named the initial individuals facing penalties or revealed which events they attended.

Downing Street has said it will confirm if Mr Johnson or Cabinet Secretary Simon Case are issued with a fine following the probe.

About 20 people reportedly gathered in the Cabinet Office building at 70 Whitehall for a leaving do for a Number 10 official.

Wine was allegedly drunk at the event, which happened while strict measures were still in place.

At the time, people were allowed to return to work and exercise outdoors more than once a day but they were not allowed to gather indoors or outdoors.

Sir Mark Sedwill, the then Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service, is said to have “briefly attended” and gave the event the go-ahead.

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