More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
No more lockdown fines have been issued across Kent in the last two weeks, police figures reveal.
It forms part of a national trend which has seen a continued reduction in the number of fixed penalty charge notices being handed out.
In Kent, a total of 120 lockdown fines have been issued as of this Monday, according to figures collected by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
The force had recorded 117 fines covering the period March 27 up until the 8 June but it has since revised that figure to 120.
It is not the first time the police has retracted figures wrongly issued by officers.
Figures collected by the NPPC up until May 29 showed 125 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) had been issued to people who had breached the government public health regulations.
But the overall figure, as of June 8, had dipped to 117 - showing eight were incorrectly issued.
The circumstances surrounding the mistaken fines are not known but legitimate grounds for a fine include driving with non-household members, house parties, large gatherings of people from different households, and camping.
They are said to be issued if they failed to comply after officers have engaged with them to explain the risks to public health and encourage voluntary compliance.
In a relaxation of lockdown rules it has been lawful for groups of up to six people to meet outdoors in England since June 1.
Where groups exceed that size, officers will follow the established approach to encourage them to comply.
According to the NPCC the majority of fines being handed out were to young men between 18 and 34 who were most likely to break the lockdown at weekends.
It is not yet known however whether the scenes on the beaches this week will see a spike.
