Police will carry out extra patrols on main roads into Wales to stop people from Coronavirus hotspots in England entering the county, Mark Drakeford has said.
The First Minister for Wales told BBC Breakfast that officers will explain the rules to people but could also issue fixed penalty notices to those who “knowingly and flagrantly” breach them.
“They will take the action that they need to take but enforcement is the final resort, not the first resort,” he said.
Mr Drakeford added that he has discussed the plans with police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners in Wales.
Officers will use a “range of techniques” to police the travel ban, he said.
It comes after Mr Drakeford sent multiple letters to Prime Minister Boris Johnson about a circuit-breaker lockdown and a travel ban on Covid-19 hotspots in England – but did not receive a response.
Mr Drakeford said holiday providers in Wales should not accept half-term bookings from people in areas of the UK with high levels of Coronavirus.
Asked about existing bookings, he told BBC Breakfast: “I’m afraid those bookings will no longer be able to be honoured.
“It’s why we’re taking this action now to give people a good period of time to understand that, if you did book a holiday in those parts of Wales, I’m afraid that holiday will now no longer be able to take place.”
Several areas of Wales are already in local lockdown due to high Covid-19 rates. These include, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, and Wrexham.
