You Don't Say, Judge...

District Judge Joanna Dickens at Swindon Magistrates Court lays into the bugling Wiltshire Police and CPS:

'This case does worry me, and trouble me, that there could be a situation where other ten thousand pound fines have been bandied about by police in circumstances where they shouldn't have been.'

'Could be'..? There almost certainly is, and likely more than one! 

But let the Blame Shifting begin! 

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said it was 'surprised' by the dismissal and will seek a review with the CPS.

Why? They didn't threaten the fine, you did... 

'Our policing response to the ongoing public health pandemic will continue to be robust, proportionate and consistent.'

But not accurate? 

'It remains vital that everyone takes personal responsibility for their actions and adheres to the restrictions which are in place.'

What personal responsibility are you taking for your officer's ignorance of the law he or she was laying down? 

A CPS spokesperson said: "We note the judge's comments and are examining what happened in this case before deciding next steps.

"The CPS also conducts a monthly review of all finalised coronavirus cases to ensure that the right person is charged with the right offence."

I wonder what you find in most cases? No, it's OK. I already know.