Black people were three times more likely than white people to be hit with punishing Covid fines in England and Wales.
Research commissioned for Britain’s police chiefs made the shocking revelation.
Alongside the racial disparity in the fines, the penalties were seven times more likely to be issued in the poorest areas, than the richest, revealing the study.
The study showed the disparity across ethnicities for every single force, with people from BAME backgrounds in one area up to eight times more likely to be fined.
The Guardian reported the study said: “In England, the rate of FPNs per 10,000 people from an ethnic minority background was 46.1, compared with 19.9 for white individuals, reflecting an ethnic disparity rate of 2.3.
“The ethnic disparity rate in England was highest for people from a Black ethnic background, who were 3.2 times more likely to be issued with an FPN.”
During the pandemic, Covid fines became a point of contention in how they were dished out, and how police exercised their powers during such a tough period for the country.
This comes as disgraced ex-prime minister Boris Johnson has been referred to police once again for allegedly breaking his own lockdown rules.
It was reported that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) study ran from March 27, 2020, just days after the lockdown began, to 31 May 2021.
Over that time period, a massive 122,506 fines were issued.
People from ethnic minorities were on average twice as likely to receive a fine, and the rate was even higher for black people.
But across counties, the disparities varied massively.
In Warwickshire, people from ethnic minorities were 1.4 times more likely to be fined than white people.
But in Cumbria, it was 8.4 times as high - however this could be so high due to tourists in the Cumbria region, and analysis of the resident population found a smaller disparity of 2.3 times.
Similarly, fines in Hertfordshire and Sussex were also seemingly hit by an influx of tourists receiving the penalties, but all showed the shocking disparity that saw ethnic minorities being fined at a disproportionately higher rate.
The highest disparity rates were in Hertfordshire, the West Midlands, Sussex, Suffolk, Derbyshire, North Yorkshire, Norfolk, Dorset, and Essex.
Rates varied from four times more likely in Essex across all fines, up to almost six times in Hertfordshire and more than eight times in Cumbria.
Meanwhile, in Wales, the disparity rate was 2.8 times for people from ethnic minorities, and around the same for Black people.
The Conservative Party's claim to being the party of law and order were left in tatters after Boris Johnson’s No 10 was issued 100 Covid fines during the pandemic.
Law-makers and advisers violated the laws they planned and put into action, sparking claims Downing Street might be amongst the biggest Covid law-breaking address in the country.
Now, Johnson has been reported to the police once again over fresh claims he broke even more lockdown laws.
Entries into the former PM’s diary allegedly revealed friends visited his grace and favour house Chequers on several occasions between June 2020 and May 2021.
The alleged visits to the 16th Century rural retreat in Buckinghamshire were brought to light during preparations for the Covid-19 public inquiry.
The Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police have been passed the concerns by the Cabinet Office.
Mr Johnson is currently awaiting the verdict of the Commons Privileges Committee over whether he misled Parliament, when he originally denied boozy lockdown-busting parties - first revealed by the Mirror - took place in No 10.
It is understood the Committee has been told of the latest development.
National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Operation Talla, Assistant Chief Constable Owen Weatherill, said: “It is clearly a concern to see a disparity between the number of FPNs issued to white and Black, Asian or ethnic minority people. But what the data is not able to show us is why these disparities exist. Each force will look at this data carefully to assess and mitigate any risks of bias – conscious or unconscious – and to minimise disproportionate impact in the future, wherever possible.
“We are making real progress on the Police Race Action Plan to address the race disparities that exist in policing and change a legacy of distrust.
“Policing is determined to achieve tangible progress that delivers on our commitment to become an anti-racist service and the findings of this report will be further considered as part of that work.”
