ALL 843 fines which North Yorkshire Police issued during lockdown may have to be reviewed after civil liberties groups and lawyers said some could have been wrongly issued.

The groups are calling for a review of more than 14,000 police fines for alleged breaches of Covid-19 lockdown rules across the country.

Of the 43 regional police forces in England and Wales, the Metropolitan Police has recorded the highest number of fines, with 906, followed by Thames Valley Police, with 866, and North Yorkshire, with 843.

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “Although the force would welcome any scrutiny put in place nationally, North Yorkshire Police has already put its own scrutiny measures in place for fines under the health protection regulations. In addition our Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner hosts a regular scrutiny panel looking at out of court disposals, which has been utilised to scrutinise Covid-19 related notices.

“In terms of the volume of fines issued, it is difficult to compare one force area with another as each has its own challenges. North Yorkshire is the largest county in England and is a magnet for visitors. This has been reflected in the fines issued with over 50 percent of notices issued to visitors from outside of the area.

“We ask members of the public to continue to keep in mind the purpose of the regulations and the national effort to protect the NHS and save lives. We will continue to engage, explain and encourage people to adhere to the new regulations and only enforce them as a last resort.”

Police chiefs and prosecutors last week apologised after admitting dozens of people have been wrongly charged under new coronavirus laws.

It followed a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) review of all 231 prosecutions under the legislation in England and Wales to the end of April, which have either been stopped or ended in a conviction.

All 44 charges brought under the Coronavirus Act - which allows officers to remove or detain a “suspected infectious person” for screening and assessment - were incorrect, including 13 wrongful convictions.

And 12 charges under the Health Protection Regulations 2020, which give police powers to break up gatherings and fine people breaching restriction of movement rules, were also wrong.

National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) chairman Martin Hewitt is now being urged to launch a review of all fixed penalty notices (FPNs) handed out in England and Wales using the regulations.

A letter to Mr Hewitt has been signed by civil liberties groups, including Big Brother Watch and Liberty, as well as lawyers, including Kirsty Brimelow QC, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers.

The NPCC said the letter has been received and is being considered.