More than 18,000 lockdown rule-breakers have been fined by police since March, the National Police Chiefs’ Council revealed.
Police bosses warned Brits need to take ‘more personal responsibilities’ as the number of tickets handed out in the two weeks to June 22 fell to their lowest level.
A total of 18,439 fixed penalty notices (FPNs), including 15,856 in England and 2,583 in Wales, were recorded by forces up to June 22.
Tickets handed out in the two weeks to June 22 fell to just 189, a significant drop from a high of 5,280 in the fortnight to April 27.
Police bosses warned Brits need to take ‘more personal responsibilities’ as the number of tickets handed out in the two weeks to June 22 fell to their lowest level. Thousands descended on Bournemouth beach this week
NPCC chairman Martin Hewitt said: ‘As restrictions ease further from July 4 in England, it is important for everyone to take more personal responsibility for their safety by continuing to follow official advice and government regulations.
‘Limiting the spread of the virus should still be everyone’s priority.
‘I would like to again thank the vast majority of people for abiding by the lockdown measures and government advice.’
Some 1,691 tickets were issued in England since Covid-19 restrictions were first eased on May 13, with just 358 handed out from June 1, when groups of six people were allowed to meet outdoors.
A total of 18,439 fixed penalty notices (FPNs), including 15,856 in England and 2,583 in Wales, were recorded by police forces up to June 22. Pictured, officers patrol near Bournemouth Pier
Police were first given powers to break up gatherings and fine people for breaching restriction of movement rules under the Health Protection Regulations 2020 on March 27.
An upward trend in the number of fines ended in the week ending April 16, which included the Easter Bank holiday.
From mid-May the number of fines fell as restrictions started to ease in England.
The first draft of figures show the lowest levels of enforcement since the lockdown began.
The figures come amid concerns over people flouting lockdown guidance at beaches and street parties.
A police officer stands in front of a fairly empty Bournemouth beach after patrols were stepped up in the area
This week a ‘major incident’ was declared in Bournemouth after thousands of sun-seekers defied social distancing to crowd together on the beach.
Furious council bosses said they were ‘appalled’ at the scenes on the Dorset coast, blasting the ‘irresponsible behaviour and actions of so many people’ as temperatures hit 91.9F (33.3C) in southern England yesterday afternoon.
John Apter, the national chair of the Police Federation, warned the Government’s announcement about loosening the lockdown on July 4 could be ‘a countdown to party time’.
‘This leads to issues that the police will have to deal with,’ he said.
Police Scotland surrounded a large crowd that had gathered at Kelvingrove Park Scotland during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic
‘Firstly, of course, there are worries about alcohol consumption leading to drunken and irresponsible behaviour, and there’s also the concern that people who can’t get into pubs because of restrictions that are still in place may cause conflict.
‘This will, without doubt, add more pressure on policing, paramedics and the wider NHS.’
The latest NPCC figures show 79 per cent of fines handed out in England and Wales were to men, with 68 per cent given to people aged under 35.
Some 787 tickets went to repeat offenders, with two people receiving eight fines and three people seven.
The fines carried penalties of £60, reduced to £30 if paid within two weeks, with the fine doubled for each repeat offence up to a £960 maximum.
Higher fines were brought in England, £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days, and rising to a maximum of £3,200 for subsequent offences, from May 13.
Crowds gather on the beach in Bournemouth yesterday as people make the most of the very hot weather again
It comes after police desperately urged people to ‘stay away’ and ‘think twice before heading’ to beaches, while Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council said 558 parking enforcement fines had been issued – the highest on record.
A whopping 33 tonnes of litter was removed from the beaches today and there has been illegal camping, littering, anti-social behaviour – including drunken fights among beachgoers – and gridlock on the roads.
Detectives revealed the chaos caused by a ‘significant volume of people heading to one area’, where some people were so eager to get a good spot that they camped overnight on the beach.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council said services were ‘completely overstretched’ as huge crowds of visitors defied advice to stay away.
The shocking scenes sparked fury as social distancing became impossible on packed beaches, raising the chilling prospect of a second wave of coronavirus.
Bournemouth (pictured), Christchurch and Poole council said services were ‘completely overstretched’ as huge crowds of visitors defied advice to stay away
England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty today warned cases of Covid-19 ‘will rise again’ if Britons do not follow social distancing guidance, as he urged sun seekers to enjoy the weather ‘in a way that is safe for all.’
Meanwhile, working Britons took to social media to claim the furlough scheme – where the Government agrees to pay 80 per cent of an employee’s salary during the Covid-19 crisis – should be scrapped because too many staff off work are heading to the coast.
At the start of the crisis, Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed the furlough scheme to protect jobs, and the Treasury is now paying 7.5million workers to stay at home which the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates will cost £100billion.
Extra police patrols and security were today protecting refuse crews and traffic wardens in Bournemouth.
Thousands of people arrived in the town on trains as council leader Vikki Slade said: ‘We are absolutely appalled at the scenes witnessed on our beaches, particularly at Bournemouth and Sandbanks, in the last 24 to 48 hours.
England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty today warned cases of Covid-19 ‘will rise again’ if Britons do not follow social distancing guidance. Pictured, Bournemouth beach
‘The irresponsible behaviour and actions of so many people is just shocking and our services are stretched to the absolute hilt trying to keep everyone safe.
‘We have had no choice now but to declare a major incident and initiate an emergency response. The numbers of people descending down here are like those seen on a bank holiday.’
Last month the National Police Chiefs’ Council said rules such as two-metre social distancing were ‘unenforceable’.
Advice issued by the NPCC urged officers to only enforce what is written in law, adding that ‘Government guidance is not enforceable, for example two-metre distancing, avoiding public transport or the wearing of face coverings in enclosed spaces’.
Police have instead opted to engage, explain and encourage the public to follow social distancing guidelines.
Many of those issued with fines were also arrested for other suspected crimes at the time, with the majority finding themselves in custody for drug offences.