Gwent Police has been issuing fines for people flouting the lockdown rules over the Easter weekend – but it is keeping tight-lipped over exact numbers.
Under The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020 police have the power to issue £60 fine for a first offence (£30 if paid within 14 days) and £120 for subsequent offences.
The College of Policing has stressed the issuing of fines should be a last resort and that a process of engagement, explanation, encouragement to return home and then enforcement should be practised.
Superintendent Carl Williams is the deputy commander for the west area of Gwent Police, which covers Caerphilly County Borough.
He told Caerphilly Observer: “We have given out Fixed Penalty Notices, but we are unable to say the total number at the moment. We have issued them where people have not complied.
“The major thing is to get people to stay at home.”
Superintendent Williams said the process of issuing the fines was “brand new” and that total figures were unavailable at the moment because of this.
What are the restrictions?
The restrictions in place are broadly similar to those in England, such as not being out with a reasonable excuse and the dispersal of groups, but there are some key differences in Wales.
For example, only being allowed out once a day for exercise is enforceable in Wales, whereas this isn’t the case across the border.
There are also rules in Wales which state employers must ensure their employees are at least two metres apart in the workplace.
The Welsh regulations also give police the power of entry to a premises where they suspect the regulations have or are about to be contravened.
Public land and public footpaths closed by authorities, such as councils or Natural Resources Wales, cannot be used by the public. Those doing so are liable to be fined – not just by the police, but by the relevant authority.
The authorities have the power to remove people from closed areas and are also permitted to use “reasonable force” to do so.
Source: College of Policing