Police reveal number of fines issued in North Yorkshire during third Covid lockdown

North Yorkshire Police has released data showing how many Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) have been handed out across the county since the national lockdown was introduced earlier this month.
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The figures show how many FPNs have been issued for breaking coronavirus restrictions in each local authority, along with a breakdown of gender, age and offence.

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The total number of FPNs given out in North Yorkshire since the third national lockdown began on January 6 is 241.

North Yorkshire Police has revealed how many fines have been handed out during the third national coronavirus lockdown.North Yorkshire Police has revealed how many fines have been handed out during the third national coronavirus lockdown.
North Yorkshire Police has revealed how many fines have been handed out during the third national coronavirus lockdown.

In the Harrogate district there have been 22 fines issued since the lockdown was introduced, with 12 of these occurring since January 12.

20 of these have been given to visitors and two to residents - 20 males and two females - and the majority were issued for 'being outside place of living' - suggesting people have been making their way into the district to enjoy its outdoor offerings rather than staying close to home.

One was also given for an 'outdoor gathering' and three handed out for an 'indoor gathering'.

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In total across the county, more fines have been handed out to residents (134) than to visitors (107) and a total of 171 men have been hit with fines, compared to 70 women.

The offence which brought about the most fines was 'indoor gathering' with 125, closely followed by 'being outside place of living' with 108.

Fines for breaking the current 'stay at home' rules begin at £200 for a first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.

It comes after Julia Mulligan,the county's police, fire and crime commissioner, said last week that some people are spending too much time debating how far rules can be stretched rather than playing their part in controlling the pandemic.

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At a North Yorkshire County Council meeting last Thursday, she said: "This isn't about the rules. This is about a virus and stopping the spread.

"Sometimes the debate and our obsession with the rules gets in the way of that overall thing that we need to do, and that is just to stay at home."

Under the lockdown rules, people must stay at home and only go out for daily exercise, essential supplies, medical and childcare reasons, education, religious worship, moving house, and working or volunteering where it is "unreasonable" to work from home.

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If you do leave home for one of these reasons, you should stay local - unless it is necessary to go further, for example to go to work.

According to the data, the most fines in the county have been handed out in Scarborough, with 106 being issued in the authority since January 6 - with most of these for residents and 'indoor gatherings'.

Earlier this month Superintendent Mike Walker, gold lead for North Yorkshire Police's Covid-19 response, urged people to stick to the rules in a bid to save lives and tried to deter people from visiting the county for a day trip.

He said: "“The new national restrictions are now in force and everyone in England should be following the new guidance to stay at home.

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“Under these new regulations, if you are outside of your home without a reasonable excuse, or gathering indoors or outdoors with others, the police can take enforcement action against you and you can be fined up to £200.

“I would also stress that it is important to stay as close to home as possible. While exercise is permitted, this should be done in your local area, preferably from your doorstep.

“To those who do not live locally, who were thinking of making a journey or day-trip to North Yorkshire to access our open spaces, I would ask you not to make that journey. You should stay close to home and exercise in your own local area.

“The new restrictions have been put in place to limit people’s movements in order to suppress the spread of a deadly virus. If you travel further than is essential, you are putting yourself and those communities you visit at risk of contracting this virus. So please, stay in your own local area.”

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“Our patrol plans have been revised and we have increased our presence and visibility, to provide reassurance to our communities. Members of the public will see us on the roads and patrolling local areas and beauty spots.

“We will continue to follow our now well-established 4 e’s approach – engaging with the public, explaining the rules, encouraging adherence and enforcing where necessary and proportionate to do so."

North Yorkshire Police has issued 2129 Covid notices in total since March 2020.