Police checkpoints on Welsh borders

Police checkpoints will be set up on the Welsh borders by Gloucestershire’s police force from today as the country is hours away from the start of a two week lockdown.

Major restrictions to people’s lives are set to be introduced in Wales from 6pm today (October 23) as they’ll be told to stay at home until November 9.

Pubs, bars and restaurants, gyms, and all non-essential shops will be closed, and supermarkets have been told they can sell only essential items.

The measure is being done to slow down an increase in coronavirus cases in Wales.

But Gloucestershire Constabulary have said it will also play a role in policing the country’s lockdown by targeting the Forest of Dean’s access points into Wales.

It said it would stop people travelling into Wales and encourage them to turn around if officers “are not satisfied with their explanation”.

If people do not turn around, the police said, it will tell forces in Wales so that they can issue a fine.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Constabulary said: “While we cannot issue fines to those travelling from Wales into the county we can inform the host force of those we stop about what has happened so they can take action.

“Officers will be running an operation from tomorrow and over the weekend that will cover routes from Wales into the Forest of Dean and if we stop someone travelling from Wales we will be engaging with them to find out why, explaining the legislation and encouraging them to turn around if we are not satisfied with their explanation.

“If they don’t then turn around we will then inform the force that polices the area they have travelled from so that they can issue a fine.

“It is important to stress that the vast majority of people are abiding by the rules but in line with our policing approach, we will take action where there are flagrant breaches.”