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Covid lockdown: South Wales Police deals with 240 New Year's Eve calls

BBC Police at Pen Y FanBBC
Last week police had to turn away people coming into Wales to exercise

There were 240 reports of Covid-19 rule breaches made to South Wales Police on New Year's Eve.

The force says it handed out 43 fixed penalty notices to some of those involved - in total, there were 430 issued in December.

Officers have also been turning away people who had travelled to Wales from Southampton, Kent and Solihull on New Year's Day.

Last week police had to turn back people travelling to Wales from London.

Referring to the rule breaches, Supt Claire Evans of South Wales Police said: "The rules are very clear that you must not mix with other households.

"Our health partners have been clear that indoor transmission remains one of the greatest risks, so while we will continue to work with our communities to help them understand the rules, we will enforce in those areas where we are seeing blatant or persistent breaches.

"House parties, attending gatherings and travelling to exercise are not allowed and if you do any of these things then you are running the risk of being fined."

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A police patrol issued a fine to a gathering in Ferndale, with other people being spoken to and sent home.

Stop checks were conducted on vehicles at Merthyr Mawr in Bridgend in response to Covid breaches, with owners identified from as far away as Gateshead and Middlesex.

Chief Constable of South Wales Police Jeremy Vaughan tweeted that there had been "assaults, drink drivers and people ignoring the fact we are in the midst of a global health pandemic".

North Wales Police asked people to "please do not travel for exercise".

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Last week people travelling to the Brecon Beacons were turned away after travelling from as far as London

What are the rules about travelling to exercise in Wales?

Alert level four

Wales has been in a nationwide level four lockdown since 20 December.

Travelling is only allowed for essential purposes, such as for work and for caring responsibilities. International travel is also not allowed.

People are still allowed out of their homes to exercise, for unlimited periods each day, but must maintain social distancing, and not exercise with anyone outside their household.