A family of five from Manchester who travelled all the way to Pembrokeshire to “see the sights” told police they didn’t realise that lockdown rules were different in Wales to what they are now used to in England.
Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police stopped the car as it was being driven near Penblewin in Pembrokeshire, around five miles to the west of Whitland in Carmarthenshire.
The vehicle had travelled more than 200 miles when it was pulled over at around 8.30pm on Sunday evening on the A40.
The family admitted to officers that they had travelled to west Wales to “see the sights”.
When asked about the restrictions that remain in place in Wales, they told police that they were unaware of the differences relating to lockdown in the country compared to England.
In England, people can travel as far as they want to sightsee, exercise or shop, as long as they adhere to the two-metre social distancing guidelines - something that is being reduced to a ‘one-metre-plus’ rule from July 4, the day when pubs will also reopen in England.
In Wales, however, people are advised to only travel with five miles from home - something that is expected to be ditched next week - as well as adhere to the ongoing two-metre social distancing advice.
The family from Manchester who had travelled to west Wales on Sunday were escorted out of Pembrokeshire by officers, who advised them of the differing rules currently in place in Wales.
It remains a busy period for Dyfed-Powys Police, which has been stop-checking vehicles across Carmarthesnhire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire since lockdown was first implemented in March.
The force has issued by far the most lockdown fines out of the four police forces in Wales.
