NUMBER OF LOCKDOWN FINES HANDED OUT IN COV

FEWER fines are being dished out to those flouting lockdown laws across Coventry and Warwickshire.

But Warwickshire Police was one of only a handful of forces across the country to give out fines in the two weeks leading to July 10.

It gave out further two, bringing its total for the period since March 27 standing at 63.

By comparison, West Midlands Police, which covers the Coventry area, has dished out a grand total of 376.

This is by no means among the highest nationally with Devon and Cornwall force giving out 1, 013 fines and Sussex police dishing out 868 since lockdown.

The total number of 16,029 fixed penalty notices (FPNS) have been issued by forces between 27 March and 20 July in England.

It has been revealed that six FPNS were issued between July 7 and July 20 under regulations around the wearing a face covering on public transport, but locations of these fines have not been revealed.

Between June 15 and July 19, 32 FPNS were also dished out to those who were not wearing face coverings on public transport.

Elsewhere, in this reporting period, one fine was issued to a person for not self-isolating after arriving in England.

The rate is falling and this is to be expected as once strict lockdown measures are eased according to National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair, Martin Hewitt said:

“As expected the number of fines police forces are issuing continues to fall as lockdown restrictions are further eased.

“However there are still some restrictions in place and they remain important for the protection of the public’s health and wellbeing. Police will continue to engage, explain, encourage and only as a last resort will we use enforcement.

“We all need to continue to be personally responsible and follow the rules, whether that be around face masks in shops or very large gatherings.

“By following the rules we are all doing our bit to prevent the virus spreading.”