£10,000 fines for organisers of prohibited gatherings quietly shelved

[island]

The National Police Chiefs Council last week instructed police forces of England and Wales to cease issuing £10,000 fixed penalty notices to organisers of large gatherings. The prohibited gatherings of over 30 people, including indoor raves, gatherings at private dwellings, and certain outdoor events, had carried the largest value of fixed penalty notice in UK legal history since late August.

The NPCC stated that only one of 66 £10,000 FPNs issued to date had been paid. The reason for the change was so that the cases could be dealt with by courts instead which would set a fine more in line with the offender’s income. Forces are now instructed to temporarily deal with these cases by way of summons instead of FPN.

This is unlikely to solve any problems. The police do not have the power to prosecute breaches of the Covid19 regulations; the regulations state prosecutions are to be brought by the CPS of councils.

(see also: The Times, 18/11/20, page 11 print edition, unable to find online)

 

[VauxhallandI]

I believe I read last night that they are now back as of yesterday?

Police can resume issuing instant £10,000 Covid fines

Penalties had been put on hold in England and Wales amid concerns about fairness

www.theguardian.com

Police forces can resume handing out £10,000 fines for breaches of coronavirus regulations, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has said following discussions with the government.

It comes after an emergency order was made to stop officers handing out the fines to Covid rule-breakers, amid concerns the government’s flagship deterrent is unfair.



Officials are scrambling to stop the crackdown on large gatherings in England and Wales, which was announced by the prime minister this summer, from imploding after serious problems emerged.

 

[island]

Well, that just goes to show that the rules are changing so fast nobody can keep up

 

[Islineclear3_1]

And if the courts have nothing better to do. Non covid-related cases are being pushed back/postponed.

Total waste of court time ...

 

[yorkie]

Does anyone know how they have been made fair? Or if perhaps they haven't but they found a loophole...

 

[GRALISTAIR]

And if the courts have nothing better to do. Non covid-related cases are being pushed back/postponed.

Total waste of court time ...

Agreed. Has to be better stuff to do.

Well, that just goes to show that the rules are changing so fast nobody can keep up

 

[yorkie]

Agreed. Has to be better stuff to do.

Denying our freedoms is THE most important thing for them right now, and the authoritarians are absolutely loving it.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Denying our freedoms is THE most important thing for them right now, and the authoritarians are absolutely loving it.

That is a horrible way for the country of my birth to be heading. It distresses me greatly.

 

[bramling]

That is a horrible way for the country of my birth to be heading. It distresses me greatly.

It’s disgusting. Whilst I do think people organising raves and such are taking the proverbial, £10k fixed penalties are absolutely not the way we should be going. It’s pretty concerning that something like that can be handed out by a police officer on the spot.

Especially when we haven’t seen politicians set much of an example - even recently with the latest Boris Covid scare.

 

[Trackman]

£10k might as well be £100k to a lot of people.
I thought if you accepted the FPN it didn't go court unless you pay it.
Thing is those who have refused a covid FPN in the past have received a bigger fine in court.
All a bit barmy to me.

 

[HSTEd]

It’s disgusting. Whilst I do think people organising raves and such are taking the proverbial, £10k fixed penalties are absolutely not the way we should be going. It’s pretty concerning that something like that can be handed out by a police officer on the spot.

Especially when we haven’t seen politicians set much of an example - even recently with the latest Boris Covid scare.

The Police are just getting frustrated that they don't get to engage in their usual passtime of smashing in the heads of football supporters.
Hence this and the heavy handed anti lockdown protest "policing"