Police wake up caravan tourists flouting lockdown rules in Cornwall

‘With engagement, explanation and education they moved on,’ force says

The force knocked on windows and doors to remind people of the lockdown rules (Newquay Police Response)

Police have been waking up caravan tourists who have broken coronavirus lockdown rules by travelling to Cornwall and staying overnight.

People “from all over the country” headed to UK tourist hotspots on the hottest day of the year on Wednesday.

Officers from Devon and Cornwall police went out on dawn patrol on Thursday in Newquay to target campervans that had stayed in the region overnight.

They knocked on windows and doors to wake people up and remind them of the lockdown rules.

“We identified some visitors that had travelled to Newquay and stayed overnight against Public Health England advice and legislation,” the force tweeted.

“With engagement, explanation and education they moved on. We love visitors to the town, #comebacklater.”

It comes after the government eased lockdown rules in England, allowing people to exercise more than once a day, drive an unlimited distance in order to exercise and meet up with one friend as long as social distancing rules are followed.

However, the health advice states that people are not allowed to leave their home to stay overnight at another location.

Wednesday saw the hottest day of the year so far, as the mercury reached 28.2C at Santon Downham in Suffolk.

Members of the public flocked to parks and beaches to enjoy their newfound freedom after the easing of lockdown measures.

The day beat a top temperature set just the day before, when London’s St James’s Park recorded a high of 26.2C.

On Wednesday, police in North Devon said roads to the area’s beaches were “gridlocked” despite pleas to the public from councils who advise against travelling to the south-west.

Officers in Ilfracombe and Braunton said they had identified vehicles from “all over the country” in the local area, where toilets and other amenities remain closed.

One officer said “valuable resources” were being used to marshal traffic, adding that elderly people in the area would be “very anxious over the selfish actions of these individuals”.

A slight easing of restrictions in England means people can drive to beaches and countryside beauty spots, where they are allowed to picnic and sunbathe.

But in response to the relaxation of measures, leaders in Devon and Cornwall warned second home owners and tourists to “think twice” about visiting the region.

Councils and tourism bodies encouraged people not to travel more than an hour from their local area to enjoy the outdoors and to avoid popular tourist locations, as the region’s car parks, toilets and hotspots remain closed.

Additional reporting by Press Association