881 fines issued in lockdown
WEST YORKSHIRE Police has issued a total of 881 fines for lockdown flouting since March 27, a few days after lockdown began, figures have revealed.
The stats, issued by the National Police Chiefs Council, show that the force handed out 860 fines between March 27 and May 11, or an average of 20 fines per day.
Lockdown restrictions were eased slightly by Boris Johnson on May 13, but the minimum fine in England increased from £60 to £100, reducing if paid within 14 days. The upper limit for fines also increased from £960 to £3,200.
On that day, the limits on exercise were lifted, and people were also told they could sunbathe and play non-contact sports such as golf, as long as social distance was maintained.
In the period between May 12 and May 25, 21 fines were issued by West Yorkshire Police, an average of 0.14 per day, which represents a 99.3 per cent fall in the number of fines being given out after restrictions were eased.
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “West Yorkshire Police has issued 881 Covid-19 related fixed penalty notices since the beginning of lockdown (figures for March 27 to May 25), as most people continue to follow the Government advice.
“The force, which is the fourth largest police force in England and Wales has issued the fourth highest volume of tickets, which is proportionate to the size of the Force, but the bulk of these were issued at the start of the period, when restrictions were more stringent. In recent weeks, very few have been issued. Our approach has always been to use enforcement as a last resort, with the focus on engagement and education.”
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