Just eight people have been fined by police in the last month for covid breaches in the Harrogate district.

Figures published last night by North Yorkshire Police revealed four fines were given to visitors to the district and four to local people for indoor gatherings between December 2 and January 5.

Other areas within the county were dealt with far more severely: a total of 362 and 308 fines were issued in the Scarborough district and York respectively over the same timeframe.

North Yorkshire issued 710 fines in total for covid breaches.

The highest number — 334 — were handed out for indoor gatherings. The second highest category was for local residents, who received 191 fines.

A total of 161 fines were given to visitors and nine were for outdoor gatherings.

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Yesterday Superintendent Mike Walker, gold commander for North Yorkshire Police’s response to covid, said people would notice a higher police presence during the third lockdown.

He added police would step up patrols and anyone found in breach of the rules faced fines of up to £200.

Chief Inspector Rachel Wood said:

“I cannot stress enough how serious our current situation is. As a nation we have moved into new national restrictions and we are being told to once again stay home to save lives and protect our health service.

“Our local patrol plans have been revised and we have increased our presence and visibility in our local communities. We will take enforcement action against those who are breaking the rules and putting the wider community at risk from this deadly virus.”

In September, the force said it had issued 1,151 fines for covid regulation breaches up to that point in the pandemic.

A private members’ club in Harrogate closed this week due to a positive case of coronavirus and will reopen on Wednesday next week.

Oatlands Mount Social Club, which was established in 1918, informed members on Facebook.

Its post said:

“Unfortunately we have had a positive covid test result for a prominent member of the club. Although we have been advised not to close our doors by Public Health England, we have decided to close the club to protect our members and employees.

“Public Health England feel that all covid safety procedures have been put in place by the club so they are not going to track and trace members at this moment in time.”

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North Yorkshire Police issued far more coronavirus fines than expected to young Asian men, according to an independent report published today.

The local police commissioner commented that it was a “concerning” development but said the force recognised the issue quickly.

Julia Mulligan said the force “found no evidence of bias” and that they all appear to have been issued “fairly and appropriately”.

“However, I remain very concerned that the sheer scale of fines issued to young Asian males is unfair and likely to be biased. This requires further work to understand. We must all do everything within our power to root out discrimination of any kind.”

Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people made up 5.2% of the North Yorkshire population at the last census but account for 19.75% of the fines. The report suggested that the focus on the restriction of movement may have resulted in unconscious bias against those who did not fit the local profile.

Read more:

• More lockdown fines issued in North Yorkshire than anywhere else in England
• £100 fines for not wearing face masks ‘a last resort’, say police

Craven was identified in the report as a particular problem, where 43% of fines were given to BAME individuals. A large number of those were Asian visitors from West Yorkshire, with 97% of fines given to people from outside the area.

North Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable Phil Cain said in response to the report:

“I am pleased that the OPFCC found no evidence of discrimination, and that the FPNs issued by our officers were issued fairly and appropriately. The review found that the FPNs issued to local people are proportionate to our local demographics.

“However, it remains a cause for concern that there is disproportionality in the number of FPNs issued to BAME visitors to our force area.

“North Yorkshire Police shares the commitment of our Police Fire and Crime Commissioner to do everything within our power to root out discrimination of any kind, and I am committed to doing so.”