Police say sorry and axe walkers’ Covid fines
CHIEF CONSTABLE ISSUES STATEMENT AFTER REVIEWING INCIDENT
TWO women hit with £200 fines for driving less than nine miles for a walk have had them rescinded.
Jessica Allen and Eliza Moore had driven from Ashby to Foremark Reservoir, where they were fined for allegedly breaking Covid rules. Amid criticism of the police being “heavy handed”, a review by the chief constable has led to an apology and the withdrawal of the fines.
TWO women who were hit with £200 fines for driving less than nine miles to go for a walk have had them rescinded.
Jessica Allen and Eliza Moore had driven from their homes in Leicestershire to Foremark Reservoir in Derbyshire where they were handed a fine for allegedly breaking Covid rules.
The pair said they felt they had not broken any rules and said they were left in disbelief when officers from Derbyshire Constabulary started to read them their rights.
Officers said the journey, which happened on Wednesday, January 6, was unnecessary and fined both women.
This sparked an outcry, with Derbyshire Constabulary criticised as being “heavy handed”, and prompted Chief Constable Rachel Swann to review the incident.
In a statement issued last night she confirmed both fines had been rescinded. She said: “Two fixed penalty notices (FPN) that were handed to two women who had travelled to Foremark Reservoir on Thursday have been withdrawn n and we have notified the women omen directly, apologising ing for any concern n caused.
“I support the fact that the officers were trying to encourage people to stay local to prevent the spread of the virus. This is a responsibility for all ll of us. All of our FPNs PNs issued in conjunction n with the Covid guidance are subject to review.
“Having received clarification of the guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) on Friday, these FPNs as well as a small number of others issued, were reviewed in line with that latest advice, and so it is right that we have taken this action.”
CC Swann added the force is working to understand the “everchanging guidance and legislation” and communicate it to officers in a way that “makes it clear what is the right course of action to take”.
“At present there is no clear limit as to how far people can travel to exercise, but government guidance strongly requests people do not leave their local area,” she said.
“We all have a responsibility to follow both the regulations and the guidance put in place to protect the NHS and save lives, and I would expect my officers to continue to take the four Es approach; to engage, explain, encourage, and enforce, to help us to keep them and their communities safe.
“It is important to note that the force has received complaints from residents living in some scenic parts of Derbyshire asking that we carry out activity to stop others travelling to the area because it becomes more crowded for local people.
“Our activity is aimed to address these concerns and to remind people to stay local. We will continue to show a visible presence in these areas and encourage people to comply with the guidance.”
Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Hardyal Dhindsa, said he welcomed the decision.
“While the police are doing their absolute best to protect public safety during what is a critical time of the pandemic, the public should rightly expect a proportionate and balanced approach, taking full considerati sideration of individual circumstances,” he said.
“We recognise that errors will occur in the face of complex guidance and legislation and it is important such situations are resolved quickly and fairly, as has been the case here. There is certainly a need for clearer direction on how the new regulations should be applied in the real world.
“I am pleased an apology has been made at the earliest opportunity and I am sure the Force will learn lessons from this incident. However, it is vital people not only abide by the law, but they also enter into the spirit of lockdown and recognise the full seriousness of this emergency.
“This means minimising travel and only leaving the home for essential purposes to protect lives and NHS services and where people wilfully break the regulations, then they should expect a Fixed Penalty Notice.”