Coronavirus: Crime
(asked on 22nd July 2020) - View Source
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of fines wrongfully issued under (a) the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 and (b) Schedule 21 of the Coronavirus Act 2020.
HMCTS are not able to assess the number of fines wrongfully issued under (a) the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 and (b) Schedule 21 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 as we do not hold this data on our Magistrates and/or Crown Court systems.
The Crown Prosecution Service have conducted and publicised a very early review of all prosecutions brought under the Act and all those brought under the regulations. Their findings have been published as follows:
March/April: https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/cps-announces-review-findings-first-200-cases-under-coronavirus-laws
Number of cases finalised (March & April) | Number incorrectly charged | |
Health Protection Regulations: 187 cases | Withdrawn | 7 |
Returned to Court | 5 | |
Total | 12 | |
Coronavirus Act: 44 cases | Withdrawn | 31 |
Returned to Court | 13 | |
Total | 44 | |
May: https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/cps-review-finds-improvements-coronavirus-charging-compliance
Number of cases finalised (May) | Number incorrectly charged | |
Health Protection Regulations: 84 cases | Withdrawn | 8 |
Returned to Court | 0 | |
Total | 8 | |
Coronavirus Act: 9 cases | Withdrawn | 8 |
Returned to Court | 1 | |
Total | 9 | |
June: https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/latest-findings-cps-coronavirus-review
Number of cases finalised (June) | Number incorrectly charged | |
Health Protection Regulations: 105 cases | Withdrawn | 6 |
Returned to Court | 0 | |
Total | 6 | |
Coronavirus Act: 36 cases | Withdrawn | 35 |
Returned to Court | 1 | |
Total | 36 | |