POLICE forces are failing to hand out penalties for not wearing face coverings with 90 per cent not issuing a single one since masks were made compulsory in shops and indoor locations, it has been revealed.
Health secretary Matt Hancock announced plans three months ago to make face coverings mandatory in shops and supermarkets from July 24.
It became mandatory to wear face coverings on public transport from June 15 and he also announced masks would have to be worn at various indoor settings.
The police and Transport for London officers were told they have the powers to enforce fines of £200, which would be reduced if paid within 14 days, for the first offence, with repeat offenders seeing their fine doubled at each offence.
After the first offence, there is no discount.
For example, receiving a second fine will amount to £400 and a third fine will be £800, up to a maximum value of £6,400.
In August figures released by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) showed officers handed out 46 fines to people violating coronavirus laws by refusing to wear face masks in England and Wales.
Two days after it became mandatory to wear a mask on public transport, 38 fines were issued.
Now, a Freedom of Information request carried out by Digital Marketing Agency, Reboot, has revealed just four forces out of 40 have issued fines.
Lincolnshire Police has issued one fine of £100, Lancashire handed out two totalling £200 and Manchester reported five £100 fines and one £200.
The British Transport Police stopped 50,729 people between June 30 and September 8.
They reported 3,545 interventions with passengers not wearing face coverings who were asked to leave the area.
And 51 fixed penalty notices were issued for offences relating to a lack of face coverings on public transport.
However, a total of seven forces failed to provide data, including Durham, Essex, Hampshire, South Yorkshire, Surrey, Thames Valley and West Midlands Police.
The data was requested on August 19 with their last response from Manchester Police received on October 12.
Separate data released by the National Police Chief’s Council found a total of 18,683 fixed-penalty notices were issued under all new coronavirus laws in England and Wales between March 27 and August 17.
The Police Federation previously said that face-mask laws added pressure to officers who are “already being stretched to the limit”.
“To expect my colleagues to be policing the supermarket aisles, looking for those shoppers not wearing a face covering, is unrealistic and unfair,” said the federation’s chair, John Apter, when the law was announced.
“We simply don’t have the resources, and this would fundamentally undermine the model of policing, which is to police by consent.”
GOT a story? RING HOAR on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.hellofaread.com/politics/france-admits-its-playing-the-bad-cop-as-brexit-talks-enter-make-or-break-week/
