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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Coronavirus: Woman 'wrongly charged under new law' | Coronavirus: Woman 'wrongly charged under new law' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| British Transport Police has admitted wrongly charging a woman who was fined £660 under coronavirus legislation. | British Transport Police has admitted wrongly charging a woman who was fined £660 under coronavirus legislation. |
| Marie Dinou, 41, from York, was arrested at Newcastle Central Station on Saturday after she refused to tell police why she needed to travel. | Marie Dinou, 41, from York, was arrested at Newcastle Central Station on Saturday after she refused to tell police why she needed to travel. |
| She was fined by magistrates for breaching the Coronavirus Act. | |
| A police and Crown Prosecution Service review said she was charged under the wrong part of the act. The court will be asked to set the conviction aside. | |
| "There will be understandable concern that our interpretation of this new legislation has resulted in an ineffective prosecution," said British Transport Police Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock. | |
| 'Shouldn't have happened' | 'Shouldn't have happened' |
| "This was in circumstances where officers were properly dealing with someone who was behaving suspiciously in the station, and who staff believed to be travelling without a valid ticket." | "This was in circumstances where officers were properly dealing with someone who was behaving suspiciously in the station, and who staff believed to be travelling without a valid ticket." |
| Mr Hanstock said his officers were "rightfully challenging her unnecessary travel". | Mr Hanstock said his officers were "rightfully challenging her unnecessary travel". |
| He added: "Regardless, we fully accept that this shouldn't have happened and we apologise." | He added: "Regardless, we fully accept that this shouldn't have happened and we apologise." |
| The BTP said it would not pursue any alternative prosecution in the matter. | The BTP said it would not pursue any alternative prosecution in the matter. |
| Mr Hanstock said frontline officers had since been provided with the latest guidance from the National Police Chiefs' Council to help them interpret the new legislation. | Mr Hanstock said frontline officers had since been provided with the latest guidance from the National Police Chiefs' Council to help them interpret the new legislation. |
| "I must remind the public that officers will continue to engage with people and seek to understand their reasons for their journeys," he said. | "I must remind the public that officers will continue to engage with people and seek to understand their reasons for their journeys," he said. |
| "Where we determine that there is no justifiable purpose for them being on the transport network, we will explain to the public why they should not travel." | "Where we determine that there is no justifiable purpose for them being on the transport network, we will explain to the public why they should not travel." |
| Under Schedule 21 of the Coronavirus Act it is illegal to fail to comply with the instructions of police officers without reasonable excuse. | Under Schedule 21 of the Coronavirus Act it is illegal to fail to comply with the instructions of police officers without reasonable excuse. |
| The maximum penalty is a fine of £1,000. | The maximum penalty is a fine of £1,000. |