Police in Bristol issued only three on-the-spot penalty notice fines for breaching the coronavirus lockdown in the past three days, despite people across social media complaining of crowds of other people in parks around the city.
The number of fines issued since 8am on Saturday by officers on patrol in Bristol was just three, although 17 more were issued across the rest of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary area.
The latest figures from the police show a total of 64 fines have been issued to people not complying with the coronavirus lockdown rules. At 8am on Saturday that figure stood at 47.
In Bristol itself, there had been 33 fines issued up to 8am on Saturday, but only three more since, even though the issue of the parks, paths, Downs and harbourside being busy with people was a constant theme on social media in the city over the weekend.
Police chiefs have consistently said they would be policing the lockdown using their discretion, and wanted to 'encourage and educate' before they go to 'enforcement'.
On Saturday, Bristol City Council issued a statement on Twitter that the 'parks were very busy.
Today, the Department of Health issued a tweet aimed at young people - who the authorities said are the hardest to reach to educate about the need for the lockdown rules.
Police previously said examples of rule-breaking included 'people in groups of more than two who are not from same household, people sat outside together and eating takeaways, and groups of people in cars not from same household'.
New powers give police officers the ability to instruct people to go home or disperse and ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children from breaking the rules.
If people continue to ignore officers’ instructions, they will be hit with a fixed penalty of £60, which reduces to £30 if paid within 14 days.
Repeat offenders will see their penalties double each time they are caught, and if they continue to refuse to comply police are able to arrest if deemed necessary.
Rule-breakers who refuse to pay a fine will face the possibility of an unlimited fine from magistrates.
