A police boss is calling on the Welsh Government to do a U-turn and increase fines for breaking coronavirus travel restrictions after an opinion poll came out overwhelmingly in favour of the idea.<\/p>\n
More than 90 per cent of people who took part in the survey conducted by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones backed his call for a big hike in the penalty for flouting the rules.<\/p>\n
Last week the Welsh Government rejected calls by Mr Jones and Dafydd Llywelyn, his counterpart in Dyfed Powys to introduce heavier fines<\/p>\n
The row came to a head after Prime Minister Boris Johnson caused anger and confusion when he eased the travel restrictions in England where people are now allowed to travel to take exercise.<\/p>\n
It led to fears of an influx of people into Wales where the lockdown remains in place and where people can only take exercise in the vicinity of their own homes.<\/p>\n
Mr Jones launched the poll \u201cout of frustration\u201d after seeing a tweet from a North Wales Police officer which said: \u201cI had one guy from Liverpool laugh at me and said me that a \u00a330 fine is only like a parking ticket\u2026What else can I say.\u201d<\/p>\n
The commissioner retweeted it and tagged in First Minister, saying: \u201cHey @MarkDrakeford @fmwales you want evidence to increase fines, how about this from a North Wales Police officer?\u201d<\/p>\n
The strength of feeling about the issue was demonstrated by the fact that his retweet gained 50,000 impressions.<\/p>\n
Fines for people who breach the travel restrictions start at \u00a360 and go up to \u00a3120 for repeat offenders, although the amount can be reduced to \u00a330 if the penalty is paid within 14 days.<\/p>\n
Around 2,000 people took part in the poll and 91 per cent of them were in favour on increasing the penalty, with 65 per cent of them opting for a fine of \u00a3500.<\/p>\n
Another 15 per cent wanted the fine to increase to \u00a3250 while 11 per cent of respondents recommended a fine of \u00a3100.<\/p>\n
Only nine per cent of people who participated didn\u2019t want any increase.<\/p>\n
According to Mr Jones, a former police inspector, the poll had demonstrated clearly that the Welsh Government was \u201cout of step with the mood of the Welsh people\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe tweet from the frustrated police officer hit the nail on the head because Welsh police forces are being denied the tools they need to do the job.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat this survey shows is that the Welsh Government are not listening to their own people and are ignoring the needs of police officers on ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will be drawing the attention of the Welsh Government to the findings of the survey and I will also be raising this matter at a meeting of the four police and crime commissioners and the four chief constables in Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf people know they stand to be fined up to \u00a3500 for travelling to Wales, they are not going to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need a realistic deterrent to reduce the number of people coming to Wales for leisure and exercise purposes which is not allowed under Welsh law.<\/p>\n
\u201cIncreased penalties will ensure we have the capacity to deal with anybody who continue to flout the restrictions<\/p>\n
\u201cOur priority as police forces is to protect life and that\u2019s the bottom line for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s crazy is that the restrictions in Wales are tighter than England but the penalties in England are greater. It doesn\u2019t make any sense.\u201d<\/p>\n