Derbyshire police issued more than 250 coronavirus lockdown fines, new figures reveal

Police have had powers to break up gatherings and fine people for breaching restriction of movement rules under the Health Protection Regulations 2020 since March 27.

According to the National Police Cheifs Council, the number of fines issued peaked in the week ending April 16, which included the Easter Bank holiday, and began to fall from mid-May as restrictions began to be eased in England.

Derbyshire police refused to provide more details of where or when these breaches took place, or what people were fined for.

A spokesperson said: “The vast majority of residents and visitors to Derbyshire have been safe, sensible and abided by the rules in place to keep people safe. This is clear from the relatively small number of fines that have been handed out.

“Where they have been given out for breaches of the legislation this has been as a last resort.

“At all time officers have explained, educated and encouraged people to following the law which is there to keep them, and everyone else, safe and stop the spread of the virus.”

A total of 18,439 fixed penalty notices were recorded by forces up to June 22, including 15,856 in England and 2,583 in Wales.

Some 1,691 tickets were issued in England since Covid-19 restrictions were first eased on May 13, with just 358 handed out from June 1, when groups of six people were allowed to meet outdoors.

Editor's message: Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues. The Star is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions for unlimited access to Sheffield news and information online.