More than 500 people were convicted for breaching coronavirus laws in London last year, figures show – with almost all receiving fines.

The financial penalties have been criticised by campaign groups who also say many nationally did not get a fair hearing due to the introduction a fast-track court process.

Ministry of Justice data shows in 2020, there were 627 court prosecutions in the area served by the Met Police for breaches of restrictions introduced at the beginning of the pandemic.

They resulted in 502 convictions, with most leading to fines.

The largest number of fines – 144 – ranged from £50 to £100 while three convictions resulted in fines of between £1,000 and £2,500.

In total, £131,884 in fines were issued by the courts in London.

Aside from fines, nine prosecutions led to a conditional discharge, where no further action is taken unless a further offence is committed.

Almost all the convictions – 496 –were for breaches of emergency restrictions, while five were for people who left their home while potentially infected with Covid-19 and one related to events and gathering.

The figures detail all prosecution outcomes, so the same defendant could have been listed more than once.

Across England and Wales, of 4,365 prosecutions against people for breaching coronavirus laws, 3,535 (81 per cent) resulted in convictions.

In total, £1.3 million in fines were issued.

Not one conviction led to the maximum fine of £10,000.

The figures come amid a number of people speaking of their outrage and claiming they wish they hadn't followed Covid rules as the news of an alleged Downing Street Christmas 2020 party has emerged.

Griff Ferris, legal and policy officer at Fair Trials, a criminal justice watchdog, said it was unjust for people to be criminalised and fined by an "opaque and unchecked process behind closed doors”.

He added: “The single justice procedure is rushed justice, on the cheap, and it is completely inappropriate for assessing charges under confusing lockdown laws.”

The MoJ said the decision to use the single justice procedure lay with the prosecutor.

A spokesperson said: "The single justice procedure allows those who plead guilty to low-level, non-imprisonable crimes to resolve their case without going to court – it would not be used for more serious offences.

"All defendants can request an open hearing and have their conviction voiced and reheard if necessary."

The MoJ figures also show men were far more likely to be convicted of breaching Covid laws in London last year – in 448 of the 495 convictions where the sex and age were recorded, the defendant was male.

People aged between 30 and 39 accounted for the largest proportion of convictions, while two were against a person aged 70 and over.

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