Dear Jonathan Moseley
 
Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, received by Merton College on 15 February 2021.
 
Request
 
Your request was as follows:
 

 1. The total number of fines issued related to restrictions put in place
due to Covid-19 (e.g. students exceeding household sizes, lack of
social distancing, failing to wear a mask etc.) since 1 October 2020.
 2. The number of fines broken down by size and type (e.g. suspended,
part-suspended, or levied) as well as the total value of these fines.
 3. Have any other forms of disciplinary action been taken (e.g. any form
of community service, or warning letters being issued)?
 4. How many students have been sent down* for Covid-19 related offences
during this time period (*this includes any variation of rusticating,
temporarily suspended, being asked to leave college accommodation or
any other meaning of 'sent down')?
 5. How much did the college earn through decanal fines in the same time
period, last year.

 
Could you also break down this information into a termly basis i.e. the
answers for the above in Michaelmas 2020, in Hilary 2021 and then a total
for both terms?
 
Response
 
The College’s response to your request is set out below.
 

 1. Michaelmas Term 2020: 21.

Hilary Term 2021: 6.
Total: 27
 

 2. Michaelmas Term 2020: 2 x £60 fine for leaving self-isolation or
having an external guest during self-isolation/quarantine; 3 x £50
fines for having an external guest not during
self-isolation/quarantine; 2 x £30 fines for having an external guest
not during self-isolation (fine reduced due to other circumstances);
14 x £30 fines for unauthorised parties/household mixing.

£750 in total.
Hilary Term 2021: 1 x £60 fine for leaving self-isolation or having an
external guest during self-isolation/quarantine; 1x £60 fine for having an
external guest not during self-isolation/quarantine but in addition to
household mixing and noise-complaint; 4 x £30 fines for unauthorised
parties/household mixing.
£240 in total.
Total for Michaelmas and Hilary Terms 2020-21: 3 x £60 fine for leaving
self-isolation or having an external guest during
self-isolation/quarantine; 1 x £60 fine for having an external guest not
during self-isolation/quarantine but in addition to household mixing and
noise-complaint; 3 x £50 fines for having an external guest not during
self-isolation/quarantine; 2 x £30 fines for having an external guest not
during self-isolation (fine reduced due to other circumstances); 18 x £30
fines for unauthorised parties/household mixing.
£990 in total.
 

 3. Michaelmas Term 2020: 9 x 1500-2000-word essays given on COVID-related
topics. 36 x official warnings given at disciplinary meetings.

Hilary Term 2021: 5 x 1500-2000-word essays given on COVID-related topics.
Total for Michaelmas and Hilary Terms 2020-21: 14 x 1500-2000-word essays
given on COVID-related topics. 36 x official warnings given at
disciplinary meetings.
 

 4. Michaelmas Term 2020: none

Hilary Term 2021: none
Total for Michaelmas and Hilary Terms 2020-21: none
 

 5. The College earns nothing from decanal fines: the fines are collected
by the Bursary and paid to a charity or charities nominated by the
Junior and Middle Common Rooms.

The totals of fines levied in Michaelmas Term 2019 and Hilary Term 2020
were £290 and £740 respectively = £1030.
 
Review
 
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the
right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be
submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your
original request and should be addressed to: Professor Irene Tracey, The
Warden, Merton College, Merton Street, Oxford OX1 4JD.
 
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information
Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9
5AF.
 
With all good wishes,
 
John Eidinow
 
Fra’ John Eidinow
DEAN AND KEEPER OF THE STATUTES
 
Merton College
Oxford OX1 4JD
[1]www.merton.ox.ac.uk
 
College Lodge:+44(0)1865 276310
[2][Merton College request email]
 
 
Merton College (The Warden and Scholars of the House or College of
Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford)
was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1264 and is registered as a Charity |
No. 1139022
 
 
 
 

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