100 county lockdown fines are rescinded by police
MORE than 100 lockdown fines have been ditched in Derbyshire, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information request.
During the first lockdown, officers had the power to issue fines starting at £60 which doubled for each repeat offence, up to a maximum of £960.
The Press Association reports that 44 per cent of coronavirus breach fines handed by Derbyshire police officers between March 27 and September 21, a total of 111, will not be collected from offenders.
It comes weeks after it was reported Derbyshire police issued a total of 255 fines between March, when the pandemic started in the UK, up until October 19.
In the UK nine forces saw 60% or more of the penalties go unpaid within 28 days between March 27 and September 21.
Derbyshire police’s Detective Chief Inspector Emlyn Richards, who is leading the force’s response to the pandemic, said police forces across the country were working in a fast-moving, and everchanging, enforcement landscape.
He said there were a number of factors behind decisions to rescind lockdown fines during a “robust review” process, which included:
Evidence of the use of the four “Es” (Engage, Explain, Encourage, Enforce) – important for officers to ensure they have attempted to use the first three Es before using enforcement as a last resort. The force has always aimed to work with our residents and businesses and engage and educate – rather than use enforcement.
The gravity of the circumstances ces - was this the e first offence or had there been multiple breaches?
Other offences that may have taken precedence - there may have been other offences that meant that the fine should not have been given.
Public interest – Is it proportionate and appropriate to send a case to court? This point was of particular note at the start of the national lockdown where the court system was under well-reported strain dealing with cases that presented serious risk and harm.
Fines which were contested in writing, w or we were left unp paid after 2 28 days of being issued, were part of the r review proce cess. D Detective Chief Inspecto spector Richards sai said: “It is important to note that the force has issued a very small number of fines and this is due to the fantastic manner in which the residents, businesses and visitors to the county have conducted themselves. The force’s clear aim throughout the last eight months has been to work with our communities and ensure that they understand the regulations which are ultimately there to help protect them and their loved ones.
“With the country now in its second lockdown, the court system is well set up to deal with contested fines and there is a good general understanding of the regulations with no fines that have been handed out since September rescinded.
“Our communities should be reassured that the small number of people who are breaching the regulations will be dealt with the robustly and appropriately.”
Currently, those in serious breach of lockdown rules can be fined up to £10,000.
The force’s aim has been to work with our communities to ensure they understand the rules.
Ch Insp Emlyn Richards