No fines in Hertfordshire for not wearing a face mask

The finding comes as the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) published figures on coronavirus fines.

Across the whole of England and Wales, 89 fines were given to those who failed to wear a face mask on public transport or in shops.

56 of those fines were issued by British Transport Police. The areas where there were the highest number of face mask fines were Greater Manchester, where police handed out seven fines, and South Yorkshire and West Midlands, where both forces handed out five each.

Other police forces in the country that handed out fines for face masks were Lancashire, Sussex, Lincolnshire, Cumbria, Devon and Cornwall, Avon and Somerset and Surrey. 

Photo: Pexels

The rules

Face mask rules first came into place on June 15, when passengers on public transport were required to wear one.

The Government then made the wearing of a mask in shops and supermarkets mandatory in England on July 24.

On September 22, Boris Johnson announced that people working in retail, those travelling in taxis, and staff and customers in indoor hospitality (except while seated at a table to eat or drink) would have to wear face coverings.

Read more: Two people fined in Herts for not self-isolating after travelling abroad

Those who fail to wear a face mask where required will be fined £200 for the first offence. This will be reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days. After the first offence, there will be no discount.

Repeat offenders will have their fines doubled at each offence, up to a maximum value of £6,400.

No one in Hertfordshire has been fined for failing to wear a face mask. Photo: Radar

Number of coronavirus fines

Since the Coronavirus Regulations were introduced at the start of lockdown, Hertfordshire Police has issued 273 fixed penalty notices.

Two of these were to people who did not self-isolate after arriving from a country on the quarantine list.

And no fines (so far) were due to breaches of the “rule of six” lockdown regulations, which came into effect on September 14, although there may be a lag in reporting so the number could change when figures are updated.

Just 15 were handed out across England that week.

In total, 18,912 lockdown fines have been issued in England and Wales so far, though just 151 of these occurred in the five weeks to September 21.

Travellers from countries on the quarantine list must self-isolate after arriving in the UK. Photo: Pixabay

Police forces can issue a £60 penalty, reduced to £30 if paid within two weeks, for breaches of the lockdown rules – but just half of the fines handed out in England and Wales so far have been paid.

Mr Hewitt added: “It is crucial that people do everything they can, including limiting social contact, to reduce the spread of coronavirus. The country is at a critical point, and personal choices will matter in the weeks and months to come.

“Thank you to the vast majority of the public for sticking to the rules and following the guidance in place to limit the spread of the virus.

“A small minority, however, are not following the rules, and are making decisions which put lives at risk – they should expect to have enforcement action taken against them.”