More than 400 coronavirus fines handed out by West Midlands and Staffordshire police
More than 400 coronavirus fines now have been handed out across the region, new figures reveal.
The fines, which were introduced in March with the country-wide lockdown, were extended earlier this month – with more severe penalties for those who breach the rules.
West Midlands Police has issued 380 fines relating to the new Covid-19 public health regulations between March 27 and September 21, while Staffordshire Police gave out 43.
The figures have come from the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), which revealed in total 18,912 FPNs were issued across England and Wales during the same period.
It comes after West Midlands Police revealed it was ramping up enforcement action against people who flout lockdown rules.
During the pandemic the force has adopted a policy of speaking to people before administering fines.
While this will continue, officers have now been ordered to move more swiftly onto enforcement – particularly for repeat offenders and those who organise large gatherings.
Since the 'rule of six' came in the force has given 50 "directions to leave", where people have been ordered to move away from an area.
Patrols
On nine occasions people were dispersed by officers, and six £100 fines have been handed out.
It came as the force revealed it was now receiving around 200 calls a day to its 101 number from people reporting rule breaches.
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Waheed Saleem has said "high profile patrols" were being stepped up to check that licensed premises and also hospitality venues were closing at 10pm as the new rules require.
Mr Saleem said the force had received a number of reports of large weddings last week.
Over the border in Shropshire, a venue in Telford has been fined £10,000 after breaching Covid legislation when around 120 guests descended for a post-wedding party.
A spokeswoman for Staffordshire Police said: "The number of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) issued to date in Staffordshire is extremely low, reflecting our policing style of engaging and explaining the regulations. However, if people choose to ignore the rules and break the law, we will take stricter enforcement action.”
West Midlands Police has been asked to comment.
