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Dec 2020

Last Updated: 31/12/2020

Uncategorized

Fine people who flout covid travel rules, says North Yorkshire MP

by John Plummer

| 31 Dec, 2020

Kevin Hollinrake says people moving between tiers has caused infection rates to increase. He urges the police to take stronger action against offenders.

Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton.

A North Yorkshire MP has called on police to fine people who flout covid travel rules.

Kevin Hollinrake said many people in tier three areas had travelled to lower tiers because of the "greater freedoms".

North Yorkshire moved from tier two to tier three today amid rising infection rates.

It is believed people in higher tier areas, such as Leeds, frequently travelled to the Harrogate district's pubs and restaurants, which were still open until today.

Mr Hollinrake, the Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton, said this movement of people had increased the spread of the virus.

He told the House of Commons yesterday:

"We would definitely want to move travel restrictions from guidance to being an offence.

"That would prevent a lot of the travel we are seeing, with many people moving from different parts of the country into our area, which is increasing infection rates.

"When the police have used their powers in terms of mixing within hospitality venues or households, that has been very effective, and the word has gone round quickly.

"It would have a similar effect if we started to fine people for travelling without good cause."

Mr Hollinrake reiterated his call for the government to consider applying different tier restrictions to different districts in North Yorkshire. He said:

"North Yorkshire is a huge place: our districts are the size of counties in other parts of the country.

"Putting a huge county such as North Yorkshire into one tier masks huge differences in the infection rate among districts.

"Some districts have an infection rate that is two or three times that in other districts, so it is possible that some of our districts should be in a higher tier and some in a lower tier. We should consider that."

Mr Hollinrake also called for grants to businesses forced to close to be increased.