We understand this is a concerning and bewildering time for many however we want to reassure you that we have put measures in place to enable us to continue to keep you safe.
COVID-19 is an unprecedented public health emergency and we are responding to developments in a fast paced and agile way.
Our top priorities are: maintaining the best service we can to you while protecting our officers and staff and supporting the nationwide response.
Through this page we will keep you updated with virus related policing information.
What we are doing
We are in constant contact with government and public health partners, both locally and nationally, to ensure we always have the best and most up-to-date information and guidance to keep you safe.
We have introduced additional operational measures including:
The formation of a Strategic Control Centre to ensure our response to calls is as professional and safe as possible and to provide advice and guidance to officers in relation to COVID-19
Extra screening questions on all calls for service to identify potential COVID-19 incidents and respond accordingly
Dedicated COVID-19 response teams to answer calls for service
Our focus is firmly on business continuity at this time.
What this means for you
This means that police are still here to respond to your calls for service when you need us.
If you phone us you should expect to be asked questions to determine if you or anyone at your address is suffering from COVID-19 or in self-isolation.
This is to help us ensure a safe and professional response for you and our officers.
If you have concerns or information about COVID-19 NI Executive Regulations not being adhered to, you can make a report here.
CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY POWERS
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020 were introduced by the Northern Ireland Executive on 28th March, 2020.
You can find details of the Regulations on the nidirect website.
What does this mean for you?
This means that if a person commits an offence of failing to comply with any such direction or restriction imposed on them without reasonable excuse, officers will consider an appropriate disposal. That may initially be advice and guidance or a Community Resolution Notice (CRN).
However, if required Police will enforce this legislation with penalty or prohibition notices.
You can find full details of current penalties here.
We are fully behind the measures announced by the UK government and Northern Ireland Executive and continue to work in partnership with our colleagues in the NI Executive Office, the Department of Health and agencies across the public sector to jointly fight the spread of the virus. We will continue to police with the cooperation of our community providing the best possible service to the public, while also rightly protecting our officers and staff.
Each and every one of us has a personal responsibility to follow the NI Executive regulations and do everything we can to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Enforcement information
| ENFORCEMENT - Since March 2020 to 31/01/22 your Police Service has issued: |
||||||||||||
| COV 1 | COV2 COM | COV 2 PRIV | COV2 TOTAL | COV 3 | COV 4* | COV 5 | COV 6 | COV 7 |
COV 8 |
COV 9 |
CRN | |
| BELFAST CITY | 1,069 | 85 | 808 | 892 | 11 | 2,047 | 22 | 0 | 431 | 8 | 10 | 810 |
| LISBURN & CASTLEREAGH | 27 | 10 | 71 | 81 | 8 | 161 | 1 | 0 | 124 | 2 | 1 | 78 |
| ARDS & NORTH DOWN | 57 | 15 | 79 | 94 | 10 | 166 | 4 | 0 | 94 | 2 | 0 | 137 |
| NEWRY, MOURNE & DOWN | 141 | 40 | 67 | 107 | 9 | 273 | 18 | 1 | 65 | 0 | 6 | 136 |
| ARMAGH CITY, BANBRIDGE & CRAIGAVON | 120 | 17 | 199 | 214 | 4 | 572 | 6 | 2 | 114 | 1 | 2 | 284 |
| MID ULSTER | 44 | 28 | 91 | 118 | 4 | 234 | 7 | 1 | 97 | 4 | 10 | 148 |
| FERMANAGH & OMAGH | 95 | 31 | 83 | 114 | 3 | 267 | 5 | 0 | 154 | 1 | 5 | 128 |
| DERRY CITY & STRABANE | 364 | 27 | 185 | 211 | 3 | 522 | 8 | 1 | 110 | 0 | 4 | 324 |
| CAUSEWAY COAST & GLENS | 25 | 23 | 76 | 100 | 2 | 246 | 2 | 0 | 143 | 0 | 5 | 138 |
| MID & EAST ANTRIM | 100 | 16 | 97 | 113 | 7 | 226 | 8 | 0 | 52 | 2 | 1 | 146 |
| ANTRIM & NEWTOWNABBEY | 59 | 18 | 98 | 115 | 3 | 157 | 4 | 0 | 147 | 3 | 2 | 243 |
| TOTALS | 2,101 | 310 | 1,854 | 2,163 | 64 | 4,871 | 85 | 5 | 1,531 | 23 | 46 | 2,572 |
The figures above are provisional, and are subject to change.
The data contained in this release is management information sourced from live PSNI administrative systems and is subject to change.
Explanation of Penalties
*New Offences and New Fixed Penalty Notices –
With effect from 0000 on 9th April 2021, COV4/COV5 fines were no longer issued. COV7 replaced the COV4 and the COV9 replaced the COV5. This is because The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 were introduced.
With effect from 0400 16th April 2021, COV3 fines were no longer issued. The COV8 replaced the COV3. This is because The Health Protection (Coronavirus International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 were introduced.
COV4: Have been replaced by a COV7.
COV5: Have been replaced by a COV9.
COV7: Issued to a person 18 years and over for a breach of the regulations. £200 fine. The penalty amount will reduce to £100 if paid within 14 days.
COV8: Issued to a person who has failed to comply with The Health Protection (Coronavirus, international Travel) Regulations NI 2021. Penalties range from £1,000 to a maximum of £10,000.
COV9: Issued to a business and/or premises as required for a breach of the regulations, starting at £1,000 to a maximum of £10,000 or an organiser/operator of a large gathering/rave.
Prohibition Notice: If a business, service provider or premises is identified as having breached Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020, they may be issued with a Prohibition Notice, which is a public safety measure. Each situation is assessed on its own merits and the circumstances of the breach/breaches taken into consideration. Where appropriate, and steps can be taken to immediately remedy the breach/breaches, a Prohibition Notice may not be necessary.
When a Prohibition Notice is served, the business, service provider or premises must immediately cease the activities giving rise to a breach of the regulations and take steps to remedy the breach/breaches. When appropriate steps have been taken to remedy the breach/breaches, the premises can re-open and resume trading within the Regulations. There is no associated financial penalty issued with a Prohibition Notice. However, should a premises breach a Prohibition Notice there is a potential financial penalty of up to £5,000, upon conviction. A prohibition notice served on licensed premises will remain in place until police are satisfied that the establishment conforms with the Regulations and is safe to re-open.
STAY SAFE AT HOME
Unfortunately, during these unprecedented times of COVID19, there are criminals in our communities who are out to make money by taking advantage of others.
Our advice about cold callers is especially important now because so many more people are spending more time at home, leaving them more susceptible to scams.
We are making a direct appeal to friends and loved ones of older people, or those who are vulnerable in our communities to please, take a few minutes and have a conversation with them about what they can do to help protect themselves and their homes.
There are a number of initiatives which are really helpful:
If you need further crime prevention advice you can contact your local crime prevention officer by phoning 101.
