More than 160 fines issued as minority continue to flout indoor gathering restriction

More than 160 people were fined for breaching Covid regulations at the weekend, as a small minority continued to flout Welsh Government’s recently-relaxed Covid regulations.

The vast majority of breaches related to house parties and indoor gatherings.

Among those issued with fines or reported for summons were:

• Thirteen people who attended a birthday party at a rental property in Mount Pleasant, Swansea;
• 10 people who attended a house party in Aberfan, Merthyr Tydfil;
• Thirty people who attended a party at a rental property in Riverside, Cardiff;
• 103 attendees of eight house parties in Cathays;
• Twelve people gathered at a rental property in Cardiff Bay;
• Three people gathered at an address in Adamsdown, Cardiff;
• Three people gathered at an address in Aberdare;
• 10 people at a house gathering in Fairwater, Cardiff
• Eight people from two separate indoor gatherings in St Mellons, Cardiff;
• Eighteen people from three different indoor gatherings in Barry, two of whom had travelled form London.

Joint enforcement compliance visits by police and council officers also continued over the weekend, with scores of businesses and licensed premises across south Wales visited.

Retrospective action in relation to a number of Covid breach reports by individuals will also be considered by the JETs.

The breaches came just hours after First Minister Mark Drakeford announced a relaxation of the restrictions in Wales, and introduced a Stay Local requirement.

Speaking following the announcement, Chief Superintendent Andy Valentine said:

“I’d ask the public to approach these changes in restrictions responsibly and with caution, and not risk undoing all that has been achieved to date.”

“Our officers will continue to be out in our communities, engaging with the public to ensure these latest changes are understood, and encouraging people to do the right thing.

“Where necessary, we will continue to take enforcement action and work with our partners, particularly the local authorities, to tackle deliberate and flagrant breaches of the public health regulations.

“However, as restrictions ease, personal responsibility will be even more important in bringing the pandemic to an end.”