FINES NOT FINE
COUNCILLORS DEMAND POLICE APOLOGY AFTER CLIMBDOWN
FINES issued to two Ashfield councillors for “political canvassing” in lockdown have been overturned by police.
Councillors Tom Hollis and David Martin were fined in February after what police described as illegal leafleting.
At the time, it was against the law for political parties to go door to door posting items through letterboxes.
But both councillors said that they were not delivering political posters.
They said they were delivering Covid-19 information sheets for people self-isolating in the district, and that none of their work was political.
The councillors, who represent the Ashfield Independents, appealed against the penalties, which have now been rescinded.
But now the Ashfield Independents, who secured all 10 Ashfield seats at last week’s county council elections, want an apology from Nottinghamshire Police.
The group say the fines were “extremely damaging” to their reputation, believing they caused them to lose “hundreds of votes”.
Councillor Hollis comfortably won his Sutton West ward with more than 1,900 votes.
But Councillor Martin held on to his Selston ward by just 11 votes in a hotly contested poll which almost went to a recount.
Councillor Martin said: “The allegations that we broke Covid rules were extremely damaging to my reputation. “The Ashfield Independents took Covid rules extremely seriously throughout the pandemic.
“We suffered extreme abuse as a result of the allegation.
“I was even accused of contributing to the Covid death toll.
“This damaged us in the election – we lost hundreds of votes as a result.
“I am pleased to have held my seat by the skin of my teeth but the police’s failure to understand Covid rules is shocking.
“Despite the fixed penalty notice being overturned and the police agreeing to pay costs, we have had no apology from them.”
Councillor Jason Zadrozny, leader of the group, added: “I am relieved that these illegally issued fixed penalty notices have been independently overturned.
“We knew from the start that the police had no case.”
After the councillors contested the fines, they were referred to the ACRO police organisation, which has been supporting forces nationwide with Covid-related fines.
A letter to the councillors from ACRO stated that it had reviewed all evidence before deciding to “take no further action”.
The fine was then dropped by Nottinghamshire Police.
A police spokesperson said: “We issued the fixed penalty notices using the national guidance following reports to us by concerned members of the public.
“Canvassing at this time was not permitted under the then guidance and we took positive action at the time based on the evidence we found.
“We have since reviewed this specific case and as a result of advice upon a legal technicality took a decision to withdraw the prosecution via ACRO.”
ACRO told the Post it did not comment on specific cases.