Just one £10k rules breach fine paid so far

JUST one of the maximum £10,000 fines issued by Leicestershire Police for Covid-19 breaches has so far been paid, the force has revealed.

Officers have issued 939 penalties to people who have broken the rules designed to stop the spread of the pandemic, since the start of the pandemic and 26 of those have been during the current lockdown.

However, to date, only one of the 26 maximum level fines has been paid. The force has said five of the £10,000 fines were being challenged and the remainder were still within the 28-day payment period.

Assistant Chief Constable Kerry Smith said: “We issue fixed penalty notices (FPNs) where there is a need for us to do so and we have found the payment for Covid FPNS is running similarly in line with the other fixed penalties we might issue.

“If someone fails to pay they are liable to be reported for summons and they will end up going to court and be dealt with that way.

“If someone receives a fixed penalty I strongly advise they pay it but more importantly I’d say to people stick to the rules and don’t get a penalty in the first place.”

Concerns have been raised the £10,000 level is simply beyond the means of most people to pay in one go but if the matter is taken to court magistrates can order payment in instalments. If after that payment is still not made prison terms are possible.

Among the £10,000 fines issued by officers were a penalty given to the former landlord of The Gate Hangs Well pub in Syston which hosted a 500-strong biker funeral and fines for the organisers of music promotional events in Leicester and Loughborough.