PSNI hand out nearly 6,000 coronavirus fines

Since the first coronavirus regultions were introduced in March, police here have handed out 2,101 less severe ‘Cov 1’ penalty notices.

There have also been 1,248 ‘Cov2’ notices handed out for gatherings in private homes or to licensed premises.

A total of 56 ‘Cov 3’ fines for failing to self-isolate have been handed out by police.

The ‘Cov 4’ penalty notices, which replace the ‘Cov 1’ offence due to tougher regulations and start with a fine of of £200, have been handed out 2,478 times in Northern Ireland.

‘Cov 5’ fines, ranging between £1,000 and £10,000, have been given to businesses for breaches of the coronavirus regulations on 58 occasions since March, the PSNI figures show.

That represents a total of 5,941 fines since the rules were first put in place.

Meanwhile, community resolution notices have now been handed out on 1,867 occasions.

In the past week alone, a total of 455 sanctions have been given out by the PSNI.

Last week, Health Minister Robin Swann said people could soon be sent to prison for repeat offences.

The minister said custodial sentences could be “proportionate” for those who consistently breach the regulations in a radio interview broadcast by the BBC.

He was speaking to BBC Radio Ulster after a district judge criticised the current Covid-19 legislation as it did not provide him with the option of imposing jail sentences on two people who had repeatedly broken the rules.

Mr Swann said he would raise the issue at a meeting of the Stormont Executive.