Police and Council officers worked together over the Bank Holiday weekend to ensure that there was not an influx of visitors trying to breach lockdown restrictions by travelling to holiday or take breaks in Pembrokeshire over the Easter period.

Dyfed-Powys Police officers worked alongside Pembrokeshire County Council staff to carry out checks and re-inforce the message to stay home, save lives.

Under current legislation and Government rules, people should not be leaving their primary residence without reasonable excuse and should not be travelling to second homes and holiday accommodation in the County. 

All holiday accommodation including holiday sites; camping sites; hotels; bed and breakfast accommodation; holiday apartments; hostels and boarding houses must remain closed until further notice unless covered under very specific exemptions.

Over the Easter weekend Council Public Protection team members visited accommodation providers to monitor and assess compliance with the legislation, stating that enforcement action would be considered where necessary and proportionate.

Residents wishing to report the commercial use of holiday accommodation in contradiction of the current restrictions over the Easter weekend were urged to do so by calling 01437 771891.

Pembrokeshire County Council Leader Councillor David Simpson stated: “During this unprecedented time, we ask you not to visit Pembrokeshire.

“Pembrokeshire is a beautiful place and it will still be here awaiting your visit once this pandemic is over. Our officers, alongside police colleagues, will be working hard to ensure the rules that are there to keep us all safe are being followed.”

Dyfed-Powys Police Superintendent Ross Evans reaffirmed the message: “I am grateful to our local authority partners for supporting us with this excellent joint initiative. This will increase our ability to support our amazing front line NHS colleagues.

“Our staff have been working extremely hard to tackle this invisible threat primarily through stopping and engaging with huge numbers of drivers. Saving lives will always be our priority.

“The vast majority have been key workers or people on legitimate journeys and I thank them for their understanding and support,” he continued stating that the authorities recognised that the Easter period would be a ‘pivotal challenge’ for the county.

The message from ‘Pembrokeshire Tourism’ was also clear - stating that travelling to a second home/holiday home was ‘non-essential travel’ and illegal under current restrictions, with the organisation urging people through a post on its Facebook page to adhere to the updated guidance issued by the Welsh Government ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

“Travel to a second home/holiday home is non-essential travel therefore it is illegal under current restrictions. You must stay at your primary residence and under no circumstances should you or others attempt to travel to a second home/holiday home, not even to ‘self-isolate’. The law is very clear on this.” stated the post.

Guidelines for operators of holiday accommodation businesses in Wales relating to the regulations on Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020 were published by the Welsh Government.

The guidelines are clear that all accommodation businesses should already be closed and must remain closed until further notice. It is an offence for accommodation owners not to comply with these regulations. It is also an offence for anyone to obstruct accommodation owners from carrying out their duties.

The guidelines state: ‘Remaining in holiday accommodation cannot be a matter of preference or convenience: for example, our (Welsh Government) view is that a claim of self-isolation or isolation from family members should not constitute a valid reason to stay (as people can and should self-isolate or isolate at home, so avoiding proximity to others and using shared facilities).’

‘Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays. People must remain in their primary residence.’

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Dafydd Elis-Thomas said: “This is an incredibly difficult time for the tourism industry, however accommodation businesses should already be closed and remain closed until further notice. I’d like to thank the industry for their cooperation during this extraordinary time. And, as the tourism industry must close its doors for the time being – this extreme measure needs to be respected by all.

“Please do not travel at this time, and stay safe at your primary home. Travelling for leisure purposes is not allowed. All holiday accommodations and attractions in Wales are closed to visitors.”

Welsh Ministers or Local Authorities can make a request for accommodation to open for a specific purpose. Unless businesses are specifically requested to open - they must remain closed. Requests could include, accommodating key workers; those who have been displaced or are homeless; or providing accommodation for health patients.

To that end, and in support of the national effort to help keep everyone safe during this emergency, Lord Elis-Thomas has written to accommodation providers to ask if any businesses are able to offer accommodation for vulnerable groups.

An unprecedented letter from First Minister Mark Drakeford and signed by Wales’ emergency and health services and council leaders, also called on the Welsh population to stay at home and save lives over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

“Our public services are working around the clock to care for and keep people safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Frontline workers are putting our health and care first, every day. We must continue to do everything we can to support them; to protect our NHS and to save lives,” stated the letter.

“We know it’s hard and we want to thank you for sticking to the rules. There are some early signs this is having a positive impact but there’s still a long way to go. We know that staying at home for long periods is difficult and families all over Wales are making many sacrifices every day.

“Most people are doing just this, but it’s really frustrating to see some people flouting the rules and putting other people at risk. We are taking action to stop this happening.

“These rules are there to protect you and your loved ones. For most people the virus will cause a mild illness, but there’s a large number of people – children, adults and grandparents – who are at risk of serious illness if they are exposed.

“Sadly, a lot of people have already died after catching coronavirus. Families across Wales have lost loved ones to this virus – if we don’t act now, even more deaths will follow.

“Our actions and decisions over the Easter bank holiday weekend, and in the coming weeks and months, will shape Wales for years to come. Please – stay home and save lives.”

Further coronavirus information is available from Dyfed-Powys Police at https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/newsroom/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19-information/ and Pembrokeshire County Council at https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/advice-on-the-coronavirus