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In some parts of England, more than three in five fines handed out to those who have violated coronavirus restrictions have not been paid, new data shows.
Nine forces saw that 60% or more of the fines issued coronavirus offenders were left without pay in 28 days between March 27 and September 21, according to figures from the ACRO criminal records office obtained by the Press Association (PA).
It comes a day after it was learned that the police forces were they told you last week to stop broadcasting “super-fines”, over concerns that the fixed £ 10,000 fine may be challenged in court.
That decision has now been reversed and officers can resume issuing fixed fine notices, as long as anyone who has received one knows they can challenge it in court.
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Police to stop issuing £ 10k ‘super fine’
The area with the highest proportion of unpaid fines was Cleveland, according to the data, where 72% of the fines (215 of 298) were not paid.
In Northumbria, 68% of fines went unpaid (188 out of 278), and in West Yorkshire it was 66% (497 out of 756).
In other areas of strength that exceeded 60% were:
- Staffordshire (65%, 28 out of 43)
- Durham (65%, 115 of 178)
- Humberside (63%, 88 of 140)
- Merseyside (61%, 300 of 492)
- West Midlands (61%, 230 out of 380)
- South Yorkshire (60%, 225 out of 375)
- British Transport Police: (60%, 197 out of 327)
It had previously been said that nationally, about 50% of fines had not been paid within the 28-day period, and Martin Hewitt, chairman of the Council of National Police Chiefs, said the proportion was in line with other fines. .
In England and Wales, the total number of tickets issued between March 27 and September 21 was 18,912, and they can be appealed in the first instance to the issuing police.
40% or more of the fines were rescinded in three areas by police forces: Merseyside (45%, 236), Staffordshire (47%, 20) and Derbyshire (44%, 111).
PA says that as a result of the way some figures are recorded, there may be some overlap between the number of unpaid fines, those that are being challenged, and those that have been rescinded.
Raj Chada, a lawyer and chief criminal defense officer for Hodge Jones & Allen, called the coronavirus regulations a “disaster”, while Kirsty Brimelow QC, a human rights lawyer at Doughty Street Chambers said it was “predictable” that the people will stop paying. fines.
She added: “Currently, it is a lottery if you are fined and if it will be rescinded.
“And the effectiveness of issuing fines to prevent the spread of the virus is questionable.
“Rather, they are adding stress and hardship to people who are already suffering.”
