Lancashire's lockdown fines - these are the facts and figures

The number of weekend lockdown fines handed out in Lancashire has dropped by more than 50 per cent from previous weeks, according to the latest figures.
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Lancashire Police said officers issued 124 fines for breaches of lockdown rules at the weekend, after investigating 362 incidents.

It is less than half the number of fines handed out a week earlier, when officers issued a weekend record of 277 tickets after receiving 461 reports.

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Figures from the force suggest compliance with lockdown rules might be improving.

Towns in East Lancashire have been hit with the most fines, with the highest number recorded in Blackburn with Darwen, where a total of 389 fines have been issued since April 2020Towns in East Lancashire have been hit with the most fines, with the highest number recorded in Blackburn with Darwen, where a total of 389 fines have been issued since April 2020
Towns in East Lancashire have been hit with the most fines, with the highest number recorded in Blackburn with Darwen, where a total of 389 fines have been issued since April 2020

Over the weekend of Friday, January 29 to Sunday, January 31, a total of 517 suspected breaches had been reported to the force, with 181 people fined for alleged breaches.

It said the majority of the reports were made in good faith but were deemed to be within the regulations.

The previous week - Friday, January 21 to Sunday, January 23 - a total of 195 people were handed tickets following 435 reports of potential breaches.

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On the weekend of Friday, January 12 to Sunday, January 14, 360 reports were made and "more than 100 fines" handed out to those deemed to have breached restrictions.

Lancashire Police issued 124 fines for breaches of lockdown rules at the weekend, with the force recording a reduction in the number of people reporting suspected breachesLancashire Police issued 124 fines for breaches of lockdown rules at the weekend, with the force recording a reduction in the number of people reporting suspected breaches
Lancashire Police issued 124 fines for breaches of lockdown rules at the weekend, with the force recording a reduction in the number of people reporting suspected breaches

According to a Freedom of Information request, nearly a third of all fines issued in the last 10 months (since restrictions came into force on April 2020) were issued in the last two months (December 2020 and January 2021).

The facts about Lancashire's lockdown fines

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal a total of 1,960 fines were issued to those deemed to be flouting lockdown since restrictions came into force in April 2020 (up to January 2021).

The vast majority were issued to men, who accounted for 1,132 fines, with 391 given to women. Another 437 fines did not specify whether the person was male or female.

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Towns in East Lancashire have been hit with the most fines, with the highest number recorded in Blackburn with Darwen, where a total of 389 fines have been issued since April 2020.

The town also recorded the highest number of fines in a single month, with 161 handed out at the peak of non-compliance in November.

Pendle was the borough with the second-highest number of fines (272), followed by Burnley (194) and Hyndburn (156).

Total number of fines for each area since April 2020

Blackburn with Darwen - 389

Pendle - 272

Burnley - 194

Hyndburn - 156

Preston - 152

Lancaster - 75

West Lancs - 72

Blackpool - 63

Chorley - 34

South Ribble - 29

Ribble Valley - 29

Rossendale - 28

Wyre - 21

Fylde - 5

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