PART 3Enforcement
Enforcement of requirement to self-isolateI15
1
Where an authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe that a person (“P”) has left, or is outside of, the place where P is self-isolating in contravention of regulation 4 F18, or Schedule B1A or Schedule 2C, the authorised person may—
a
direct P to return to the place where P is self-isolating,
b
F3where the authorised person is a constable, remove P to the place where P is self-isolating,
c
where F4the authorised person is a constable and it is not practicable or appropriate in the circumstances to take the action in sub-paragraph (a) or (b), remove P to accommodation facilitated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of P's self-isolation.
F191A
Where an authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe that P is a person who falls within regulation 4(1)(d), an authorised person may do any of the following for the purpose of ensuring that P complies with the requirements in Schedule B1A (additional measures)—
a
give a direction to P, including a direction—
i
that P remain in a particular area of a port to await transportation to accommodation designated for the purposes of Schedule B1A,
ii
that P move to a particular place to board transportation designated for the purposes of Schedule B1A,
iii
that P board transportation designated for the purposes of Schedule B1A to travel to accommodation designated for the purposes of Schedule B1A,
iv
that P remain in the place where P is self-isolating;
b
remove P to accommodation designated for the purposes of Schedule B1A.
1B
Where an authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe that P is a person who falls within regulation 4(1)(d) and that P has committed an offence under regulation 6(1)(a) or (3), the authorised person may—
a
require P to produce their passport or travel document for examination;
b
detain P for up to three hours;
c
search P and any baggage belonging to P or under P’s control, or any vehicle in which P has travelled, for evidence, other than items subject to legal privilege, that relates to the possible commission of an offence under regulation 6(3); and
d
seize and retain any document or article recovered by a search under sub-paragraph (c).
1C
Paragraph (1B) does not confer a power to detain or search an unaccompanied child.
1D
Any search under paragraph (1B) must be conducted by an authorised person of the same gender as P.
1E
Paragraph (1B) does not confer a power to conduct an intimate search.
2
3
4
Where P is a child, and has left or is outside of, the place where they are self-isolating and accompanied by an individual who has responsibility for them—
a
an authorised person may direct that individual to take P to the place where P is self-isolating, and
b
that individual must, so far as reasonably practicable, ensure that P complies with any direction given by an authorised person to P.
5
Where P is a child, and an authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe that P is repeatedly failing to comply with regulation 4 F23or Schedule B1A, the authorised person may direct any individual who has responsibility for P to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that P so complies.
6
F44Power of entry5A
1
A constable may enter premises in order—
a
to search for a person who is suspected of committing an offence of contravening the requirement in paragraph 10 of Schedule B1A (duty to self-isolate);
b
to remove a person of the description in sub-paragraph (a) to accommodation designated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of Schedule B1A.
2
The power in paragraph (1) is exercisable if the constable—
a
has reasonable grounds to believe that a person of the description in paragraph (1)(a) is in or on the premises; and
b
has a reasonable belief that it is necessary and proportionate to enter the premises for the purposes specified in paragraph (1)(b).
3
A constable exercising the power in paragraph (1)—
a
may use reasonable force if necessary; and
b
may be accompanied by a police community support officer.
4
A constable exercising the power in paragraph (1)—
a
if asked by a person on the premises, must show evidence of the constable’s identity and outline the purpose for which the power is being exercised; and
b
if the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily absent, must leave the premises as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as when the constable found them.
5
In this regulation, “premises” includes any building or structure and any land.
Offences and penaltiesI26
1
A person who—
a
without reasonable excuse contravenes a requirement in regulation 3,
F6aa
without reasonable excuse contravenes a requirement in regulation 3A,
F28ab
without reasonable excuse contravenes a requirement in regulation 3B,
F29b
without reasonable excuse contravenes a requirement in paragraph 5 or 16(a) of Schedule B1A, or contravenes a requirement in any other paragraph of that Schedule (except paragraph 15) or in regulation 4,
c
F32d
without reasonable excuse contravenes a requirement in or imposed under regulation 5(1A),
commits an offence.
F51A
But a person does not commit an offence where they contravene a requirement F7in—
a
regulation 3A, if they reasonably believed at the time of the contravention that the notification of a negative result was valid and from a qualifying test, F33...
b
regulation 4 in the circumstances described in paragraph (8)(d), (8A)(f), (9)(h) or (13A) of that regulation, if they reasonably believed at the time of the contravention that the test was an appropriate test (within the meaning given in paragraph 2 of Schedule 2A)F34, or
F35c
Schedule B1A if the accommodation or transport booked is no longer available for reasons beyond the person’s control.
F81B
For the purposes of paragraph (1)(aa), reasonable excuses include, in particular, where—
a
a person was medically unfit to provide a sample for a qualifying test and possessed a document, in English or accompanied by a certified English translation, signed by a medical practitioner entitled to practise in the country or territory in which that practitioner was based, to that effect,
b
it was not reasonably practicable for a person to obtain a qualifying test due to a disability,
c
a person required medical treatment with such urgency that obtaining a qualifying test was not reasonably practicable,
d
a person contracted coronavirus and required emergency medical treatment,
e
a person was accompanying, in order to provide support, whether medical or otherwise, a person described in sub-paragraph (c) or (d) where it was not reasonably practicable for the accompanying person to obtain a qualifying test,
f
a person began their journey to England in a country or territory in which a qualifying test was not available to the public, with or without payment, or in which it was not reasonably practicable for a person to obtain a qualifying test due to a lack of reasonable access to a qualifying test or testing facility and it was not reasonably practicable for them to obtain a qualifying test in their last point of departure if this was different to where they began their journey,
g
the time it has taken a person to travel from the country or territory where they began their journey to the country or territory of their last point of departure prior to arriving in England meant that it was not reasonably practicable for them to meet the requirement in paragraph 1(c) of Schedule 2B, and it was not reasonably practicable for them to obtain a qualifying test in their last point of departure.
F361C
For the purposes of paragraph (1)(ab)—
a
reasonable excuses for contravening regulation 3B(2), (3) or (4) include, in particular, where—
i
it was not reasonably practicable for a person to book a test due to a disability,
ii
a person reasonably considered before arriving in England that it would not be reasonably practicable for the person (or, as the case may be, the child for whom the person has responsibility) to provide a sample for a test in accordance with regulation 3B due to a disability,
iii
a person required medical treatment with such urgency that booking a test was not reasonably practicable,
iv
a person was accompanying, in order to provide support, whether medical or otherwise, a person described in paragraph (i) or (iii) where it was not reasonably practicable for the accompanying person to book a test,
v
a person began their journey to England in a country or territory in which the person did not have reasonable access to the facilities or services required to book a test, with or without payment, and such facilities or services were not reasonably accessible in their last point of departure if this was different to where they began their journey,
b
reasonable excuses for contravening regulation 3B(5) include, in particular, where—
i
it is not reasonably practicable for P to undertake a test due to a disability,
ii
P requires medical treatment with such urgency that undertaking a test is not reasonably practicable,
iii
a test is cancelled for reasons beyond P’s control,
iv
P has left England in accordance with regulation 4(7)(b), or left the common travel area in accordance with or paragraph 13(a) of Schedule B1A.
2
A person who, without reasonable excuse, wilfully obstructs any person carrying out a function under these Regulations commits an offence.
3
A person who intentionally or recklessly provides false or misleading passenger information commits an offence.
F93A
An operator (within the meaning given in regulation 4A) who contravenes regulation 4B(3) or 4C(3) commits an offence.
4
An offence under these Regulations is punishable on summary conviction by a fine.
5
Section 24 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 M1 applies in relation to an offence under this regulation as if the reasons in subsection (5) of that section included—
a
to maintain public health,
b
to maintain public order.
Fixed penalty noticesI37
1
An authorised person may issue a fixed penalty notice to anyone that the authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe—
a
has committed an offence under these Regulations, and
b
is aged 18 or over.
2
A fixed penalty notice is a notice offering the person to whom it is issued the opportunity of discharging any liability to conviction for the offence by payment of a fixed penalty to an officer designated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this regulation (“the designated officer”) specified in the notice.
3
Where a person is issued with a notice under this regulation in respect of an offence—
a
no proceedings may be taken for the offence before the end of the period of 28 days following the date of the notice,
b
the person may not be convicted of the offence if the person pays the fixed penalty before the end of that period.
4
A fixed penalty notice must—
a
give reasonably detailed particulars of the circumstances alleged to constitute the offence,
b
state the period during which (because of paragraph (3)(a)) proceedings will not be taken for the offence,
c
specify the amount of the fixed penalty,
d
state the name and address of the person to whom the fixed penalty may be paid, and
e
specify permissible methods of payment.
5
Where the fixed penalty notice is issued in respect of an offence described in regulation F26(1)(c), F37except in so far as it relates to Schedule B1A, or regulation 6(2) where the person is believed to have wilfully obstructed any person carrying out a function in relation to regulation 4 or 5 F38other than paragraph (1B) and other than in relation to Schedule B1A, then the amount specified under paragraph (4)(c) must be £1,000.
F15A
Where the fixed penalty notice is issued to a person in respect of an offence described in regulation 6(1)(b) F39other than an offence in respect of a requirement in Schedule B1A (additional measures), then the amount specified under paragraph (4)(c) must be—
a
in the case of the first fixed penalty notice, £1,000,
b
in the case of the second fixed penalty notice, £2,000,
c
in the case of the third fixed penalty notice, £4,000,
d
in the case of the fourth and subsequent fixed penalty notice, £10,000.
F405AA
Where the fixed penalty notice is issued to a person in respect of an offence described in regulation 6(1)(b) (for contravention in respect of a requirement in Schedule B1A except under paragraph 3 or 5), or an offence described in regulation 6(1)(c) (for contravention of a requirement in or imposed under regulation 5 in so far as it relates to Schedule B1A or regulation 5(1B)), or regulation 6(1)(d) or regulation 6(2) where the person is believed to have wilfully obstructed any person carrying out a function in relation to Schedule B1A, regulation 5 in so far as it relates to that Schedule or regulation 5(1B), then the amount specified under paragraph (4)(c) must be—
a
in the case of the first fixed penalty notice, £5,000,
b
in the case of the second fixed penalty notice, £8,000,
c
in the case of the third and subsequent fixed penalty notice, £10,000.
5AB
Where the fixed penalty notice is issued to a person in respect of an offence described in regulation 6(1)(b) in respect of the requirement under paragraph 3 of Schedule B1A, or an additional measures offence under regulation 6(3), then the amount specified under paragraph (4)(c) must be £10,000.
5AC
In paragraph (5AB) “an additional measures offence” means the intentional or reckless provision of false or misleading passenger information relating to the person’s travel history in relation to a country or territory listed in Schedule B1.
5B
In determining how many fixed penalty notices a person (“P”) has received for the purposes of paragraph 5A, if P received more than one fixed penalty notice for an offence described in regulation 6(1)(b) of these Regulations before 2nd October 2020, only one of those notices may be taken into account.
6
F41Subject to paragraph (5AB) where the fixed penalty notice is issued in respect of an offence described in regulation 6(1)(a) or (3), or regulation 6(2) where the person is believed to have wilfully obstructed any person carrying out a function in relation to regulation 3 (an “information offence”), then the amount specified under paragraph (4)(c) must be—
a
in the case of the first fixed penalty notice issued in respect of an information offence, F12£500,
b
in the case of the second fixed penalty notice issued in respect of an information offence, F13£1,000,
c
in the case of the third fixed penalty notice issued in respect of an information offence, F14£2,000,
F15d
in the case of the fourth and subsequent fixed penalty notices issued in respect of an information offence, £4,000.
F16e
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F16f
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F106A
Where the fixed penalty notice is issued to a person in respect of an offence described in regulation 6(1)(aa), or regulation 6(2) where the person is believed to have wilfully obstructed any person carrying out a function in relation to regulation 3A, then the amount specified under paragraph (4)(c) must be—
a
in the case of the first fixed penalty notice, £500,
b
in the case of the second fixed penalty notice, £1,000,
c
in the case of the third fixed penalty notice, £2,000,
d
in the case of the fourth and subsequent fixed penalty notice, £4,000.
F426ZB
Where the fixed penalty notice is issued to a person in respect of an offence described in regulation 6(1)(ab), then the amount specified under paragraph (4)(c) must be—
a
in the case of a fixed penalty notice issued in respect of a failure to possess a testing package in accordance with regulation 3B(2), £1,000,
b
in the case of a fixed penalty notice issued in respect of a failure to obtain a testing package in accordance with regulation 3B(3), £2,000,
c
in the case of a fixed penalty notice issued in respect of a failure to obtain a testing package in accordance with regulation 3B(4), £1,000,
d
in the case of the first fixed penalty notice issued in respect of a failure to undertake a test in accordance with regulation 3B(5) or (7), £1,000,
e
in the case of the second fixed penalty notice issued in respect of a failure to undertake a test in accordance with regulation 3B(5) or (7), £2,000.
F176B
In determining how many fixed penalty notices a person (“P”) has received in respect of an information offence for the purposes of paragraph (6), no account is to be taken of any such fixed penalty notice issued to P before 4.00 a.m. on 18th January 2021.
7
Whatever other method may be specified under paragraph (4)(e), payment of a fixed penalty may be made by pre-paying and posting to the person whose name is stated under paragraph (4)(d), at the stated address, a letter containing the amount of the penalty (in cash or otherwise).
8
Where a letter is sent as described in paragraph (7), payment is regarded as having been made at the time at which that letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.
9
In any proceedings, a certificate that—
a
purports to be signed by or on behalf of the designated officer, and
b
states that the payment of a fixed penalty was, or was not, received by the date specified in the certificate,
is evidence of the facts stated.
10
For the purposes of this regulation, “authorised person” means—
a
a constable,
b
an immigration officer, but only in relation to the issue of a fixed penalty notice in respect of an information offence F11or an offence described in F46regulationF436(1)(a), 6(1)(aa), 6(1)(ab), 6(1)(b) (for failure to comply with a requirement under Schedule B1A), F476(1)(c), 6(1)(d), 6(2) and 6(3), or
c
a person designated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this regulation.
ProsecutionsI48
Proceedings for an offence under these Regulations may be brought by the Crown Prosecution Service and any person designated by the Secretary of State.