Policing during the circuit breaker

Summary

The request sought details on the Isle of Man Constabulary's policing approach, warning procedures, and enforcement statistics during the March 2021 circuit breaker. The authority disclosed specific statistics on warnings and arrests, clarified procedural rules for issuing warnings, but withheld information on training dates, warning elements, and the concept of policing by consent.

Key Facts

• There was no difference in policing approach between the lockdown and the circuit breaker.
• COVID warnings can be issued in person or over the phone but require the recipient's full details.
• No additional training was required for officers regarding COVID enforcement.
• Recipients of a COVID warning do not receive a physical copy of the warning.
• Arrests for suspected breaches are assessed on an individual basis and must be justified by the officer.

Data Disclosed

• 7 fixed penalty notices
• 133 covid warnings
• 104 total arrests
• 27 covid 19 arrests
• 03/03/2021 - 31/03/2021
• case_id: 3966673

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held or cannot be found after taking reasonable steps

Original Request

1. Was there any difference between a covid lockdown and a covid circuit breaker in terms of policing approach and thus interaction with the public? 2.How is a covid warning given out? For example: On the spot if police are present? 3 a. What are the elements of a covid warning? 3 b. What are the factors that make a covid warning a warning? 4. How to police decide on when to give a fixed penalty notice vs a covid warning? 5. What details must be obtained from a person in order to given them a covid warning? 6. Is it possible to give someone a covid warning if the person who is receiving the covid warning has not given a police constable their details? 7. Is there a time limit upon which police can given a person a covid warning? 8 a.What training was given to police regarding issuing fixed penalty notices, covid warnings and covid arrests? 8 b. Please provided dates of the training given in 8a. 9 a. How many fixed penalty notices were given out during the circuit breaker? 9 b. Please confirm the dates of the circuit breaker. 10. How many covid warnings were given during the circuit breaker? 11. How many arrests were made during the circuit breaker? 12 a. Do the police have to explain why they are issuing a covid warning? 12 b. Does a person receiving a covid warning need to understand why they have been issues with a covid warning? 13 a. Does a person receiving a covid warning also receive a copy of their warning? 13b. Is there a time limit in which a person receiving a covid warning must be given a copy of their warning? 14. Does the Isle of Man Police Constabulary police by consent? 15. What is the purpose of a covid warning? 16. What is the purpose of a fixed penalty notice in relation to covid. 17. What is the purpose of arresting a person in relation to a suspected covid breach?

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

12 a. Do the police have to explain why they are issuing a covid warning?

12 b. Does a person receiving a covid warning need to understand why they have been issues with a covid warning?

13 a. Does a person receiving a covid warning also receive a copy of their warning?

13b. Is there a time limit in which a person receiving a covid warning must be given a copy of their warning?

1. Does the Isle of Man Police Constabulary police by consent?

2. What is the purpose of a covid warning?

3. What is the purpose of a fixed penalty notice in relation to covid.

4. What is the purpose of arresting a person in relation to a suspected covid breach?"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested

I have detailed below the information that is held.

1. Was there any difference between a covid lockdown and a covid circuit breaker in terms of policing approach and thus interaction with the public? No.

2.How is a covid warning given out? For example: On the spot if police are present?
It can be given out on the phone or in person.

3 a. What are the elements of a covid warning?

3 b. What are the factors that make a covid warning a warning?

1. How to police decide on when to give a fixed penalty notice vs a covid warning? Each case is based on a case by case basis, where the circumstances are
   reviewed for the most appropriate outcome.

2. What details must be obtained from a person in order to given them a covid warning?
   Their full details.

3. Is it possible to give someone a covid warning if the person who is receiving the covid warning has not given a police constable their details?
   No.

4. Is there a time limit upon which police can given a person a covid warning?

All warnings were dealt with as soon as practicable.

8 a.What training was given to police regarding issuing fixed penalty notices, covid warnings and covid arrests?
No additional training was required.

8 b. Please provided dates of the training given in 8a.

9 a. How many fixed penalty notices were given out during the circuit breaker? 7 fixed penalty notices.

9 b. Please confirm the dates of the circuit breaker.
03/03/2021 -31/03/2021

1. How many covid warnings were given during the circuit breaker?
   133

2. How many arrests were made during the circuit breaker?
   104 total arrests – 27 of which were covid 19 arrests.

12 a. Do the police have to explain why they are issuing a covid warning?
Yes.

12 b. Does a person receiving a covid warning need to understand why they have been issues with a covid warning?
No.

13 a. Does a person receiving a covid warning also receive a copy of their warning?
No.

13b. Is there a time limit in which a person receiving a covid warning must be given a copy of their warning?
No.

1. Does the Isle of Man Police Constabulary police by consent?

2. What is the purpose of a covid warning?
   To warn people for low level as an alternative to FPN/ Arrest.

3. What is the purpose of a fixed penalty notice in relation to covid.
   Alternative to prosecution.

4. What is the purpose of arresting a person in relation to a suspected covid breach? Each arrest is assessed on an individual basis and must be justified by the officer
   making it.

Please quote the reference number 3966673 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

Information Governance, Data Protection, Vetting & Disclosure Manager