Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Robert Harries

Police turn back 48 cars in one day during checkpoint stops on last weekend of fire-break lockdown

Police turned around 48 cars in just one day as they carried out spot checks during the last weekend of the Welsh fire-break lockdown.

Officers from the Special Constabulary of Dyfed-Powys Police were stationed at two locations in Pembrokeshire throughout the day on Saturday, November 7.

They were carrying out checks on the A40 at Penblewin and further south on the A477 near Llanteg.

In total, they stopped more than 300 vehicles.

Of those, 48 were found to be travelling without a reasonable excuse. Police have not confirmed if they issued drivers with fixed penalty notices, but all were told to turn around and return home.

An officer carries out a stop check on a car at Penblewin on Saturday (Dyfed-Powys Police)

On Saturday, everyone in Wales was subject to travel restrictions due to the fire-break lockdown that had been in place since Friday, October 23. The lockdown only came to an end at one minute past midnight on Monday, November 9.

Under those restrictions, only essential travel was permitted, such as to provide care or for work purposes when people could not work from home.

That has now changed, after a new set of national measures came into force first thing on Monday morning.

Keep up to date with the latest coronavirus data where you live:

Superintendent Craig Templeton of Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Throughout the fire-break, officers have been conducting high visibility patrols across the four counties of Dyfed-Powys.

“These have included daily road checks in key areas, which allow officers to engage with motorists and ensure that Welsh Government regulations regarding essential travel are understood and being followed.

“We have been pleased that the majority of people are adhering to the rules and appreciate these checks are part of helping keep our communities safe.

“Where people have been found making unnecessary journeys, officers have explained the current limitations and encouraged people to return home.

“Enforcement - through the issue of fixed penalty notices - remains only a method of last resort when drivers are determined to flout the rules.

“We would like to thank everyone who has worked with us to help keep Wales safe.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.