Sussex Police among top 10 for Covid-19 fines
Many of them went to visitors arriving from outside the county
The Chief Constable of Sussex Police has delivered a ‘keep calm and carry on’ Covid message to people across the county.
During a meeting with Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, Jo Shiner reported that crime levels had returned to pre-Covid levels and urged people to follow pandemic restrictions such as wearing a mask and sticking to the rule of six.
She said:
“We know it’s been a really long, frustrating time for everybody and we have seen very much that tensions are rising in some areas – particularly because of the different dynamics that some families are now experiencing, sadly.
“We would just urge people to continue to use common sense, to use as much patience as people can have, continue to report stuff to us, and we’ll continue to police communities with empathy, with sympathy – but with enforcement where we need to.”
That enforcement has seen 868 people receive Fixed Penalty Notices – the equivalent of a Covid parking ticket – since March 27.
This places Sussex in the top eight for such fines.
CC Shiner said around 75 per cent of them were given to people visiting from outside the county – mainly those attracted to the beaches during the hot summer weather.
But a couple of hefty penalties are being considered for locals who have flouted the rules, putting themselves and others at risk of infection.
CC Shiner said: “We have got a couple of investigations ongoing where we may well issue the £10,000 fine to people who have been incredibly irresponsible.”
Sussex Police recently received a £644,621 share of the £30m surge funding provided to help forces in England and Wales keep on top of Covid-19 enforcement.
Mrs Bourne was told that plans were being drawn up to use the money to target towns and communities most affected by people who refuse to comply with the restrictions.