MORE than 1,000 fines were handed out by police for breaches of Covid-19 laws in West Yorkshire over a nine-month period last year.

Data published by the National Police Chiefs Council shows a total of 1,061 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) were issued by the West Yorkshire force between March 27 and December 20.

Of those, 774 were issued for breaches of coronavirus laws brought in during the first few months of the pandemic, 60 were linked to the tiered alert system introduced in October, and 178 to the national lockdown which began in November.

Police forces across England and Wales issued 32,329 FPNs in total during the period, although the National Police Chiefs Council says there has been a downward trend in recent weeks. The peak occurred during the Easter bank holiday in April.

Of the fines issued in West Yorkshire, there were four for failing to wear a face covering when required and ten for breaching international travel rules. There were also eight for breaking business regulations and 17 for gatherings of more than 30 people.

Martin Hewitt, National Police Chiefs Council chairman, said: “We’ll target resources towards those who commit the most serious breaches.”