“Enforcement is working” Police updates on Covid-19

Chief Inspector Stewart Brinn says…

In Lincolnshire our officers have been ensuring we help keep people safe from the effects of COVID-19 by engaging with people, explaining the national guidance, and encouraging them to act appropriately. But a small number of people have not behaved in line with the advice and have been issued with hefty Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs).

Largely, people in the county have been following the central advice to stay at home, to only make essential journeys, and to keep 2m from people if trips are unavoidable. Our beaches have been deserted even in the recent sunny weather, our city streets have been eerily quiet, and our usually bustling market towns have been desolate. For that we are grateful.

But some people have decided not to listen to the advice and have subsequently found themselves issued with a hefty on-the-spot fine.

We have issued nine tickets in the last week to people in Skegness, Boston, and Spalding who have refused to comply with government guidance in relation to Coronavirus. This has mainly been for people gathering in groups of more than two.

Chief Inspector Stewart Brinn, who is one of two Silver Commanders leading Lincolnshire Police’s response to COVID-19, explained: “Fining people is something we don’t want to do because we would much prefer that people followed the advice to protect themselves and others and stayed at home. However, there is nobody who can say they aren’t aware of the guidance now and we are very clear in our position – we will talk to you, we will encourage you to change your behaviour, and if you don’t we will fine you or use our powers to make you leave the area.

“There is no deviation on this – we have a duty to protect communities in Lincolnshire and we will use all the powers at our disposal to achieve that.”

If members of the public do not comply with the advice to stay at home and avoid non-essential travel the police may:

• instruct them to go home, leave an area or disperse
• ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking these rules
• issue a fixed penalty notice of £60, which will be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days
• issue a fixed penalty notice of £120 for second time offenders, doubling on each further repeat offence

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