Coronavirus: Welsh police tell English visitors to 'learn lockdown rules' and stay away
Tourists coming from聽as far as London were refused entry to the beauty spot, known as "waterfall country", last weekend.
Friday 5 June 2020 23:21, UK
Police have urged English visitors to get a grasp on the lockdown rules in Wales after turning away more than 1,000 cars from the Brecon Beacons in just two days.
Tourists coming from as far as London were refused entry to the beauty spot, known as "waterfall country", by Dyfed-Powys Police last weekend.
On Friday, police said many of the drivers claimed they were not aware Wales has a five-mile limit for non-essential journeys to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The lockdown rules differ slightly to that of England's, where people can now travel an unlimited distance for exercise and to access beauty spots.
One culprit, a doctor from London, travelled to Brecon to buy lamb, while a group from Devon made a 350-mile trip to Wisemans Bridge, Pembrokeshire, to "look at the beach".
And a birthday party from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, travelled all the way to Elan Valley, Powys, for a barbecue, police said.
A Dyfed-Powys Police spokeswoman said: "Police in Powys are reminding people to check the rules before they travel, as tourists from the Midlands, London and Bristol continue to visit despite lockdown restrictions."
She added: "Many of those stopped claimed they thought the rules around travel were the same as in England, while others had deliberately flouted them."
Officers said 72% of people reported for breaches of coronavirus restrictions in Powys since 27 March have been from outside of the area.
Superintendent Steve Davies said: "Our officers have worked hard to engage with the public at every opportunity throughout these unprecedented times by explaining what we are doing and why, and encouraging people to make the best choices to protect public health in Wales.
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"But where people have clearly flouted the rules we have dealt with them appropriately and issued fines."
Fines for repeated breaches of lockdown regulations start at £60 in Wales, and double for each repeated offence to a maximum of £1,920.
The country's three national parks, Snowdon in North Wales, the Elan Valley in Mid Wales, and the Pembrokeshire coast in West Wales all remain closed to the public, as do all National Trust car parks and properties.