People From Deprived Neighbourhoods Were Given More COVID Fines in Scotland: Study

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon wears a Tartan mask in Edinburgh, Scotland on June 26, 2020. Jeff J Mitchell/Pool via Reuters

Overall more than one in four fixed penalty notices were issued for breaches of COVID-19 rules to those living in deprived areas in Scotland, though in later lockdowns police dealt with more people from wealthier backgrounds, according to a new study.

The report called “Police Use of COVID-19 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) in Scotland” was published on Thursday to reflect on the police use of temporary powers of enforcement issued under First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish National Party (SNP).

Least Deprived Areas

It found that people living in the 10 percent most deprived areas of Scotland were 2.6 times more likely to be handed a fine than those living in the least deprived areas, figures analysed by report author Professor Susan McVie at the University of Edinburgh showed.

Between March 2020 and May 2021, more than one in four (22.2 percent) FPNs were dished to people living in one of the 10 percent most deprived areas of Scotland. Less than one in ten (8.6 percent) were issued to people living in one of the 10 percent least deprived areas.

Recipients also tended to be younger, with three-quarters of fines being handed to people under the age of 30. They were far less likely to be issued to those living in one of Scotland’s most affluent areas.

Over 23,000 police FPNs were registered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS) during the first year of the pandemic (2020/21), more than twice that of the pre-pandemic year, of which the majority were COVID fines.

During the first lockdown, FPNs were mainly issued for incidents occurring during daytime hours in outdoor spaces (such as parks, beaches, or gardens).

During later phases enforcement reflected a “nighttime economy” pattern of policing with FPNs mainly issued in relation to gatherings or parties people’s homes, hotels, or student accommodation.

The study found that there was a relative increase in the issue of FPNs among those living in Scotland’s most affluent communities during phase two (mid-July to the start of November 2020) was highly likely to be related to tickets issued as a result of parties organised and attended by younger people, and particularly students.

The study found that the majority (59 percent) of penalties in Scotland were issued during the second lockdown in January 2021.

According to an analysis by Oxford University’s Blavatnik school of government in 2021, Scotland endured the longest and strictest lockdown of any of the four UK nations. Though the UK was “globally unique” in spending the longest period of lockdown at a very high level of stringency.

McVie said that this report “is the first in the UK to examine in detail the payment of fixed penalties issued in relation to breaches of the COVID-19 Regulations.”

“Concerns that the public would reject these penalties, and fail to pay them, are not founded by this study. However, it does raise concern about the impact of incrementally increasing fines on those who may have been least able or willing to comply with the Regulations as it is likely that these individuals were also less able to pay their fines,” said McVie.

Encourage Compliance

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said that fixed penalty notices issued during the early phase of the pandemic were primarily issued in “relation to travel infringements of the legislation.”

“During the latter stage of the restrictions, officers were responding to calls from the public about gatherings or house parties where they engaged with people to encourage compliance. Fixed penalty notices were issued after all other avenues had been exhausted and only as a last resort,” he added.

PA contributed to this report.