DATA INSIGHTS - Were people with health vulnerabilities more likely to be fined by the police during the Covid-19 pandemic?

During the Covid-19 pandemic, new policing powers were introduced enabling officers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to those believed to have breached the restrictions. Our study using linked administrative data from police and health organisations in Scotland, assesses whether people with health vulnerabilities were more likely to have received a Covid-FPN.

Background

In Scotland, where over 20,000 Covid-Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were issued for regulatory breaches, with police officers reporting particular challenges dealing with non-compliance amongst people with health vulnerabilities involving mental illness and substance use. Health studies suggest that people with these health vulnerabilities, were most severely impacted by the pandemic in a whole range of ways; however, there were no existing studies on whether the police use of enforcement by issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) was included.

Using linked administrative data from police and health services in Scotland, the study sheds light on how enforcement measures affected those with mental health conditions and substance use issues.

Our Findings

Our study addresses this, with findings showing:

individuals who had accessed health services for psychiatric conditions or substance use, were more likely to have received a Covid-FPN, especially during the first lockdown
the strength of this association was greatest amongst people with multiple health conditions and those accessing health services both before and during the pandemic

Conclusion

Our findings suggest:

the new policing powers impacted disproportionately on people suffering from mental illness and/or addictions and point to a previously unidentified justice inequality.
our administrative data linkage study highlights the importance of taking health vulnerabilities into greater consideration when planning for future pandemic preparedness.