Police apologise after a lady was fined for breaching coronavirus laws at Newcastle Central Station

British Transport Police have admitted they were wrong after a lady was fined £660 on Monday, March 30 for breaching new coronavirus laws.
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A woman who was fined for breaking the new coronavirus laws is set to have her conviction overturned.

Marie Dinou, 41, from York, was arrested at around 8am on Saturday, March 28 at Newcastle Central Station after refusing to tell officers her reason for travelling.

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On Monday, March 30, Dinou appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court where she was fined £660.

British Transport Police have apologised to a lady after she was fined for breaching coroanvirus laws.British Transport Police have apologised to a lady after she was fined for breaching coroanvirus laws.
British Transport Police have apologised to a lady after she was fined for breaching coroanvirus laws.

Following a joint review between British Transport Police (BTP) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), it has been established that Marie was charged under the wrong section of the Coronavirus Act.

Magistrates have now been asked to relist the case and to overturn the conviction.

Despite this, BTP Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock defended the actions of the arresting officers saying: “There will be understandable concern that our interpretation of this new legislation has resulted in an ineffective prosecution.

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“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.

“Officers were rightfully challenging her unnecessary travel.”

Mr Hanstock also issued an apology to Marie Dinou, adding: “Regardless, we fully accept that this shouldn’t have happened and we apologise.

“It is highly unusual that a case can pass through a number of controls in the criminal justice process and fail in this way.”

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BTP are not believed to be looking for any further conviction relating to the matter.

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