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Jul 2020

Last Updated: 27/07/2020

Crime

Asian men get 'far more' coronavirus fines in North Yorkshire

by Connor Creaghan

| 27 Jul, 2020

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

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.

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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."

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Asian men get 'far more' coronavirus fines in North Yorkshire

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