NORTH Yorkshire Police has issued more than 100 fines for breaches of coronavirus laws since the start of lockdown, new figures have revealed. 

A total of 107 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) were handed out by the force from January 6 - including 49 in Scarborough. Ryedale and Richmond have recieved no fines.

Supt Mike Walker, of North Yorkshire Police, said the number of FPN has doubled compared to the first week of the spring lockdown with 46 fines. 

“We have issued 107 fixed penalty notices since the national lockdown commenced, which is more than double the number we issued in the first week of the first national lockdown last year," he said.

“Sadly we are seeing a minority of people flouting the rules and who are making unnecessary journeys into or across the county or who are gathering indoors and holding house parties.

“I cannot emphasis enough the risk this behaviour presents at this current time and I urge people to think about their actions and very carefully consider the decisions they make about leaving home. You should only leave home for essential reasons and if you do go out, you should stay local.

“Currently within North Yorkshire and the City of York we have some of the highest infection rates across the Yorkshire and Humber region. So it isn’t just about the risk of people bringing the virus in with them. It’s about the risk that you could pick up the virus here and take it home with you, spreading it wider to your family and loved ones.

“So please follow the rules – stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.”