Police set to double number of Covid fines in Northamptonshire in just six weeks

Northamptonshire Police are on course to DOUBLE the number of coronavirus fines dished out in the first six months of the pandemic in just six weeks.

Figures published by the National Police Chiefs' Council today showed the local Force issued 172 Fixed Penalty Notices for breaking Covid-19 rules between October 20 and November 16.

And one of the county's top officers revealed on Friday that officers had issued around 100 in the last week.

Until October 19, there had been 374 fines given out for making unnecessary journeys out, breaking the rule of six or failing to wear a face covering on public transport or in shops.

Assistant Chief Constable Simon Blatchly told Friday's weekly County Council Covid-19 briefing: "Over the past week our officers have issued approximately 100 fixed penalty notice tickets county-wide for a range of issues.

"Our hope is, of course, is that people do follow the rules.

"We have been put into Tier Two, which is positive, and we don't wish to go up a tier.

"From a policing point of view we're obviously putting plans in place for when we do come out into Tier Two and we're also looking ahead to Christmas and New Year."

Between October 20 and November 4, Northamptonshire Police issued 42 tickets for failing to wear face masks in shops and 35 on public transport.

Officers also gave out 16 tickets for breaking the rule of six — which was in force before the national lockdown restrictions came into effect — and 77 tickets between November 5 and November 6 for breaching those national regulations.

Police were given powers to issue £60 fines during the first national lockdown in March. This was later raised to £100 — doubled for repeat offenders.