ALMOST half of all Covid fines issued in Dorset in the first 11 months of the pandemic were dished out in May 2020, police figures reveal.

Dorset Police gave out 559 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for breaches of the regulations in the single month as the gradual easing of the first lockdown began.

Figures obtained by the Daily Echo from the National Police Chiefs' Council through a Freedom of Information request show that just more than 1,200 Covid fines were issued in the county between March last year and the end of January 2021.

The force's enforcement on Covid breaches came into real effect in April 2020 with 275 FPNs issued.

While this figure more than doubled the following month, June to September last year saw just 12 fines handed out before an increase to 28 in October when the tiered restriction system was first introduced.

A week-by-week FPN breakdown was obtained for November, December and January.

Over this period, the week commencing January 17, saw the most Covid fines in Dorset with 52, followed by 51 in the seven days beginning on December 6, 2020.

The Daily Echo asked Dorset Police to comment on the spread of breaches and enforcement in relation to the coronavirus regulations.

Discussing the surge of fines in May last year, a force spokesperson said: "During May 2020 the Government gradually eased lockdown measures and the stringent restrictions that had been in place since March 23.

"This meant that any enforcement action taken by officers against large gatherings and non-essential travel began to slow. The rise in fines issued during May 2020 are as a result of a level of enforcement action taken against blatant breaches, coupled with fines issued in previous months still being processed and recorded."

Police forces have been asked to take a tough stance on rule breakers during the current lockdown period.

And Dorset Police chief's have previously said this has led to them moving to enforcement action faster than they previously would.

On the FPNs issued at the start of this year, the Dorset Police spokesperson said: "In January 2021 new national lockdown legislation was brought in to effect to protect the NHS and save lives following a rise in Covid-19 cases and deaths. The fines issued during this month were to those individuals who had flagrantly breached the rules, such as those who held house parties and travelled hundreds of miles to visit Dorset for a day trip."

The force spokesperson added: "Yet again, we would like to thank the huge majority of people in Dorset for sticking to the rules over the last year in a bid to stop the spread of the virus."

Covid FPNs issued each month by Dorset Police between March 2020 and October 2020

March: 5

April: 275

May: 559

June: 5

July: 0

August: 1

September: 6

October: 28

Covid FPNs issued each week by Dorset Police between November 2020 and January 2021

November 1: 5

November 8: 9

November 15: 40

November 22: 29

November 29: 43

December 6: 51

December 13: 1

December 20: 1

December 27: 20

January 3: 17

January 10: 44

January 17: 52

January 24: 11