united-kingdom police
How can UK police fine people when it is not supported by law?
<p>United Kindgom</p>

<p>During the COVID pandemic, police officers have taken to fining members of the public who break government guidelines (exercising too far away from their houses, exercising more than once a day, etc). It has been reported numerous times (and is clear from reading the text of the law), that none of these behaviours are actually illegal, they are simply government guidelines.</p>

<p>How can police officers enforce something that is not stated in law, and, therefore, and these fines lawful?</p>

<h2>They can’t</h2>
<p><strong>But they aren’t</strong></p>
<p>This is the <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/made/data.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">law</a> (as <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/447/made/data.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">amended</a>). Section 9 contains the penalties.</p>
<p>In any event the police don’t fine people they issue an infringement notice which is an <em>allegation</em> of an offense - police can issue these even if they reasonably believe they took place - they are entitled to be wrong. The person given the notice can admit the offense by paying the fine or contest the allegation by going to court.</p>
