Devon and Cornwall police have issued over 1,900 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) since the first lockdown in March last year new figures have shown.

The data, which was released by the National Police Chiefs' Council, covers the number of FPNs issued under COVID-19 regulations which came into effect from March 27 2020. 

Devon and Cornwall police have, over the course of almost a year, 1,914 FPNs were issued regarding people breaking lockdown rules, refusing to wear face-masks or obstructing those trying to comply with the new laws.

There are eight categories that describe what the penalties were given out for as well as how many were issued, these are:

  • No. 1, 2 & local lockdown regulations: 1,007
  • Local Covid-19 Alert levels: 47
  • Holding a gathering of more than 30 people: 0
  • No. 4 lockdown regulations: 152
  • All tiers: 690
  • Face covering regulations: 7
  • International travel regulations: 7
  • Business regulations: 4

​​Falmouth Packet: Devon and Cornwall police have, over the course of almost a year, 1,914 FPNs were issued for people breaking lockdown rules. Devon and Cornwall police have, over the course of almost a year, 1,914 FPNs were issued for people breaking lockdown rules. (Image: Newsquest)

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Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Martin Hewitt, said: "We are still in a really dangerous stage of a pandemic which has killed more than 120,000 people. 

"Eleven months on and back into a national lockdown, the rules are really clear and so it is frustrating that we still have a small number of completely defiant and irresponsible people who have no regard for the safety of themselves or others.

"We all know we must wear a face covering in a shop or on a bus and we all know we can’t meet up in groups.

"We’re taking a common sense approach, applying discretion and judgement when engaging with the public. 

"But common sense would dictate that someone having a party is well aware what they are doing is wrong and has made an informed decision to do it anyway. 

"Our extra dedicated patrols across the country will continue to support those of us making significant sacrifices in following the rules by taking enforcement action against those who are not."

In England, 66,529 fixed penalty notices have been issued since March 2020 and a further 5,751 have been issued in Wales.

The data also describes how 72% of the FPNs issued throughout England and Wales were issued to males with 27% being issued to females and a further 1% being issued to people who do not identify as either male or female.

Just under half (45%) of the notices issued were to people between the ages of 18-24 and 76% of all the penalties issued were to people who self-identified as being of white ethnicity.