Lancashire Police continue to dish out lockdown breach fines as penalty cost rises to £100 from today

The figures, which run up to April 27, comes as the Government raises fines to £100 from today.

The force issued a total of 633 fines during the first month of the lockdown which started on March 27.

The figures, released by the National Police Chiefs Council, show the fines had increased by 253 after it was revealed Lancashire Police had dished out the most fines in the country by April 15 with 380 issued.

The latest figures show the force is now third, behind Thames Valley (649) and Metropolitan (634).

NPCC chairman Martin Hewitt said: “As the latest provisional figures on the number of fines issued show, the vast majority of people continue to do the right thing, staying at home in order to protect the NHS and help save lives.

“The figures also show our use of the enforcement powers remains proportionate with just 0.02 per cent of the population in England being issued with a fine.”

From today the fines are being increased by 67 per cent - from £60 to £100 - as the Government moves towards easing lockdown restrictions.

The first fine someone receives if police believe they are flouting restrictions will be lowered from £100 to £50 if paid within 14 days, according to the Home Office but fines will double for each repeat offence, up to a maximum of £3,200.

Last week Jack Jones, 20 from Fleetwood, was jailed for 12 weeks after racking up seven penalty fines for breaching lockdown.

In total 8,877 Fixed Penalty Notices were issued across England up to April 27.