The Independent reports almost a third of prosecutions under Coronavirus legislation have been brought incorrectly, leading to hundreds of cases being dropped, analysis by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) found.

According to the CPS analysis, 359 of 1,252 charges last year under Coronavirus legislation were later withdrawn or quashed in court.  Furthermore, it is reported that a further 127 wrongful charges were brought under the Health Protection Regulations.

Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said that the number of fines being issued by police was nearing record levels at the end of January.

He told journalists that officers had been “moving more quickly to enforcement where people are clearly and deliberately breaching the rules” since October.

Almost 43,000 fines had been issued under the Health Protection Regulations by 17 January, with the penalties ranging between £60 and £10,000 depending on the version of the law under which they were imposed.

Source: The Independent