The number of fines issued by Essex Police for Covid breaches

Data released by the National Police Chiefs’ Council shows more than 1,200 people were slapped with on-the-spot fines for breaking Covid-19 laws across the county.

With the figures covering the year from March 2020 to March 2021, Essex Police said there had been times the force had to take action against “clear and blatant” breaches.

A spokesman said: “There were 14,000 coronavirus-related incidents attended by police and we had issued just over 1,200 fixed penalty notices.

“There had been 59 arrests, the vast majority of whom would have been arrested irrespective of Covid-19 due to their behaviour.

“The majority of people in Essex have done the right thing and for that we thank them.

“That has allowed us to continue to do our primary job, which is catching criminals and keeping the county safe.

“We have used a common sense approach to the policing of the coronavirus regulations from the outset.

“Our approach has been to engage with people, encourage them to do the right thing and explain the restrictions.”

The data shows across Essex, 25 people were fined for breaching regulations around the wearing of face coverings on public transport and in shops.

Eight were fined for breaching international travel regulations, while 82 were hit with penalties for breaching the national lockdown enforced from December.

In February, at the height of the national lockdown, one Colchester resident captured footage of nine youngsters congregating in the town’s Castle Park.

Colchester Council’s public safety boss Mike Lilley said patrols were stepped up to prevent people from gathering in public spaces.

The same month, Colchester anti-lockdown protestor Dace Omondiale, 31, was fined £1,173 for encouraging people to gather in opposition to lockdown rules.

The court heard she posted on social media encouraging people to break lockdown restrictions.

She was identified as the leader of a anti-lockdown gathering in Culver Square.