OFFICERS in Sussex have now issued more than 1,000 fines for breaches of coronavirus restrictions. 

Sussex Police revealed they have issued 1,178 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest data. 

The figures, published by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), show that a whopping 867 FPNs were handed out whilst the county was under national or local lockdown restrictions. 

Again, 282 of those fines were recorded during the current lockdown - the available data currently shows fines up to January 17.

Sussex is the third worst offending county in the whole of the South, only Devon and Cornwall Police and the Metropolitan Police have issued more covid fines. 

Up to 17 January, five FPNs were issued by Sussex Police to those failing to self-isolate after arriving from a country on the UK government quarantine list. 

Four of the fines handed out in Sussex were given to businesses.  The main reasons for the issuance of an FPN included: Businesses not enforcing face covering regulations;  gatherings of more than the restricted number taking place within a business; businesses not adhering to the table service only rules.

The force have been cracking down on rule breakers and issued FPNs to a group of off-road cyclist at the Lewes chalk pits on Sunday. 

What about the rest of the country?

Police forces across England and Wales have issued 42,675 FPNs since March. 

During the festive period from 18-31 December 2020 more than 3,000 FPNs were handed out in England and Wales.   

A jaw-dropping 80 per-cent of all Coronavirus notices issued in England and Wales were given to those aged between 18-39. 

National Police Chiefs’ council chair, Martin Hewitt said: "We are doing what we said we would, moving more quickly to enforcement where there are clear breaches of the rules.

"This seriously dangerous stage of the virus and national lockdown have led to more proactive patrols by forces and more FPNs have been issued as a result.

“We know most people are doing their best to follow the rules, however there is a stubborn minority who are not taking personal responsibility and continue to put people at risk."

The last data set released by the NPCC on January 8, covering the start of December, noted that Sussex Police had issued 892 FPNs. 

How much can you be fined for breaking the rules? 

Fines can be issued by the police if you are caught breaking these rules. The fines start at £200 for a first offence and double up to a maximum of £6,400.

However, if you hold an illegal gathering of more than 30 people the police can issue a fine of £10,000.