ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Police have admitted misinterpreting new coronavirus lockdown legislation when charging a woman who received a £660 fine.

Marie Dinou, 41, from York, was arrested at Newcastle Central Station on Saturday after she allegedly failed to tell officers why she needed to travel, British Transport Police (BTP) said.

She was arrested on suspicion of breaking restrictions imposed under the Coronavirus Act 2020 and subsequently fined at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

But BTP said that, following a joint review with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), it had established she was charged under the incorrect section of the Coronavirus Act.

Before and during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures 33 show all Before and during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures 1/33 AP 2/33 Buckingham Palace AP 3/33 Piccadilly Line tube AP 4/33 Big Ben AP 5/33 Millennium bridge AP 6/33 Wembley Stadium AP 7/33 St Pancras International train station AP 8/33 Downing Street AP 9/33 Victoria Station AP 10/33 Regent Street AP 11/33 The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace AP 12/33 London's National Gallery in Trafalgar Square PA 13/33 Edinburgh's Royal Mile PA 14/33 Barry Island, South Wales PA 15/33 Bath PA 16/33 Bath PA 17/33 London's Waterloo station PA 18/33 London Bridge PA 19/33 London's Canary Wharf Jubilee Line platform PA 20/33 London's Canary Wharf Station PA 21/33 London's Buckingham Palace PA 22/33 London's Tower Bridge PA 23/33 London's Leicester Square PA 24/33 London's Millennium Bridge with St Paul's Cathedral PA 25/33 London's Criterion Theatre PA 26/33 London's Palace Theatre PA 27/33 London's Phoenix Theatre PA 28/33 London's Canary Wharf Station PA 29/33 Bournemouth beach PA 30/33 Bath PA 31/33 Bath PA 32/33 Barry Island, South Wales PA 33/33 Bournemouth beach PA 1/33 AP 2/33 Buckingham Palace AP 3/33 Piccadilly Line tube AP 4/33 Big Ben AP 5/33 Millennium bridge AP 6/33 Wembley Stadium AP 7/33 St Pancras International train station AP 8/33 Downing Street AP 9/33 Victoria Station AP 10/33 Regent Street AP 11/33 The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace AP 12/33 London's National Gallery in Trafalgar Square PA 13/33 Edinburgh's Royal Mile PA 14/33 Barry Island, South Wales PA 15/33 Bath PA 16/33 Bath PA 17/33 London's Waterloo station PA 18/33 London Bridge PA 19/33 London's Canary Wharf Jubilee Line platform PA 20/33 London's Canary Wharf Station PA 21/33 London's Buckingham Palace PA 22/33 London's Tower Bridge PA 23/33 London's Leicester Square PA 24/33 London's Millennium Bridge with St Paul's Cathedral PA 25/33 London's Criterion Theatre PA 26/33 London's Palace Theatre PA 27/33 London's Phoenix Theatre PA 28/33 London's Canary Wharf Station PA 29/33 Bournemouth beach PA 30/33 Bath PA 31/33 Bath PA 32/33 Barry Island, South Wales PA 33/33 Bournemouth beach PA

The BTP has now agreed to contact the court and ask for the case to be relisted and the conviction set aside.

In a statement, deputy chief constable Adrian Hanstock said: “There will be understandable concern that our interpretation of this new legislation has resulted in an ineffective prosecution.

“This was in circumstances where officers were properly dealing with someone who was behaving suspiciously in the station, and who staff believed to be travelling without a valid ticket.”

Mr Hanstock said his officers were “rightfully challenging her unnecessary travel”.

He added: “Regardless, we fully accept that this shouldn’t have happened and we apologise.

“It is highly unusual that a case can pass through a number of controls in the criminal justice process and fail in this way.”

The BTP confirmed it would not pursue any alternative prosecution in the matter.

Mr Hanstock said frontline officers have since been provided with the latest guidance from the National Police Chiefs’ Council to “help them” interpret the new legislation.

“I must remind the public that officers will continue to engage with people and seek to understand their reasons for their journeys,” Mr Hanstock said.

“Where we determine that there is no justifiable purpose for them being on the transport network, we will explain to the public why they should not travel.”

He said the new coronavirus law would be applied “as a last resort” and “where situations develop”.

The BTP said it will undertake a more detailed review of the case with the CPS to “ensure that any lessons to be learned are integrated into our shared justice processes”.

Under schedule 21 of the Coronavirus Act, it is illegal to fail to comply with the instructions of police officers without reasonable excuse.

The maximum penalty is a fine of £1,000.