Sussex Police issue more than 100 fines to people breaching lockdown measures

However, the force said officers had to issue more than 100 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) across the county from Friday (April 10) to Sunday (April 12), with over half of these being issued in Brighton.
A significant proportion of the FPNs were issued to people travelling from outside of the county on day trips, police said. On Easter Sunday (April 12), all of the FPNs issued in Brighton and Hove Division were to people who live outside of Sussex.
A police spokesman said four fines were issued to people in breach of Covid-19 restrictions in Camber - a couple from St Albans who made the 150-mile round trip to come and walk on the beach, a man from Bexley who admitted to riding around the south east on his motorbike, and a man from Mordon who drove to the beach for a walk with his children.
Sussex Police Chief Constable Giles York said: “Once again, I’m so thankful for the amazing community spirit across Sussex. Local people are listening and doing the right thing by staying home, protecting the NHS and saving lives.
“Police officers and PCSOs out and about across the county report people, for the most part, complying with the guidance and engaging with them positively, showing support for their efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19.
“Unfortunately, a small number of people from outside of the county deemed it appropriate to visit the area, and these people were engaged with, explained to and encouraged to go home, with enforcement being a last – but necessary - resort in some cases.
“The number of FPNs we issued represents a tiny proportion of the thousands of interactions with the public over the weekend.
“We are incredibly grateful to our local communities. We appreciate their patience, resilience and respect and ask them to simply continue in that same manner.”
Sussex Police said many people are now reporting potential or perceived breaches and that each report is reviewed, triaged and prioritised for response. The number of crimes reported to Sussex Police over the four-day Easter weekend remained low as many people stayed indoors, according to a spokesman.
The spokesman added: “A small minority of people continued to breach the restrictions and the law, with the force seeing an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour connected to Covid-19 and a few instances of officers, security guards, shop staff and other keyworkers being threatened. These included:
“A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and being drunk and disorderly in a public place after officers responded to reports of a group gathering and drinking in Seaside Recreation Ground, Eastbourne around 6pm on Sunday (April 12).
“A man was due to appear in court on Monday (April 13) accused of licking products in a shop in Lewes Road, Brighton and putting them back on the shelf around 9pm on Saturday (April 11). Simon Plante, 42, unemployed, of Oriental Place, Brighton, is charged with criminal damage, possession of a sharp pointed article in a public place and using threatening, abusive or insulting words to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
“An incident in Ditchling Road, Brighton, on Saturday (April 11) in which a man said he was approached by three men claiming to be plain clothed police officers collecting on-the-spot fines for breaches of the government’s coronavirus guidance. Police have the power to issue FPNs but would not demand the money be paid instantly. Genuine officers will always carry identification and would be happy to show this if asked.”
Sussex Police said it will continue the current approach of engaging with members of the public in the first instance, explaining the importance of following the government advice and encouraging them to make the right choice.
A force spokesman said enforcement remains a tactic where people refuse to comply or deliberately breach the guidelines.
Under government regulations, you should only leave the house for very limited purposes: shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible; one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household; any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person; travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home.