Derbyshire police 'big enough to say we apologise' over lockdown fines

Derbyshire’s police and crime commissioner says the force is ‘big enough to say we apologise’ over controversial lockdown fines.
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Jessica Allen and Eliza Moore were each fined £200 for allegedly breaching the lockdown laws by driving five miles to exercise together at Foremark Reservoir.

Derbyshire Constabulary initially defended its officers’ actions before promising to review those and other fixed penalty notices issued after guidance confirmed that the law does not restrict the distance travelled for exercise.

Hardyal Dhindsa, Derbyshire's Police and Crime CommissionerHardyal Dhindsa, Derbyshire's Police and Crime Commissioner
Hardyal Dhindsa, Derbyshire's Police and Crime Commissioner
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Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Hardyal Dhindsa today told the BBC: “It looks as if we might have been able to deal with it differently but it’s an operational matter.

"I’ve asked the chief constable who has agreed to review these cases and if the police acted in error then the fines can be rescinded by them.

"We have a quality assurance check on all fixed penalty notices that will be undertaken quite urgently and if an error was made operationally then of course we’re big enough to say we apologise and rescind those fixed penalty notices.”

Derbyshire Constabulary has declined to say how many fines are under review and whether any have yet been overturned.

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A spokeswoman for the force said: “We don’t at this time have any further information, or anything to add, following our statement on Friday. All fixed penalty notices during this relevant period that have been issued will be reviewed for compliance. All recipients will be contacted.”

The force promised to launch the review on Friday following guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.