COVID-19: DO FINES GIVE YOU A CRIMINAL RECORD?

By breaking the new COVID-19 regulations, you can be fined £100, or more for repeat offences.

So would such a fine give you a criminal record?  Would it show up on searches that employers or other organisations would carry out?  Do fines need to be recorded on job applications?

According to the Liberty website, which is a little out of date for the 'rule of six':

• An offence against the regulations is technically a criminal offence

• But if you are issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) and pay it within the stipulated time, which means you don't go to court, no criminal offence will be recorded

• Prison is not possible under these regulations

Doctors are obliged to notify the British Medical Association if at any time they are subject to a criminal conviction or prosecution.  However there is no need to notify an FPN such as for traffic or parking offences.

Subject to confirmation (and this isn't legal advice), it would be reasonable to assume:

• FPNs for COVID offences would also be ignored
• If that is the case for doctors, no employer should require this information