POLICING Covid rules is getting harder because of the public’s “fatigue” with restrictions, a top cop has admitted.
Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn made the comments as Wales enters a two-week lockdown — and South Yorkshire becomes the latest region to enter the tightest Tier 3 restrictions.
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It comes as studies reveal that British people are willing to break Covid lockdown rules in order to see their loved ones after growing tired of the curbs.
Despite polls showing the public is largely behind the restrictions, “intimate” focus groups have reportedly “uncovered hidden truths” about how “fatigued” Britons really feel.
Large swathes of the UK are facing increasingly restrictive rules imposed as coronavirus cases surge.
The most strict measures were introduced across Wales which last night entered a 17-day lockdown, with all leisure and non-essential retail closed including clothes shops, furniture stores and car dealerships
People can leave home for limited reasons, including to provide care, buy food and medication, exercise, or work if they cannot work fro home.
POLICE ENFORCING COVID RULES
But Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn admitted enforcing the rules would be “challenging”.
He told the BBC: “The public… I guess there’s fatigue that has set in in relation to the rules and regulations.
“Which is why it’s really important we get the message out for people to take personal responsibility.”
He added it was important for the police to act in a proportionate way and understand these were short-term measures that are here to safeguard the communities across the whole of Wales.
Dyfed-Powys Police tweeted it was not patrolling the border with England, but officers were deployed on roads and in communities.
It added: “Truth be told, we’re really hoping that we can all work together to do what we’ve been asked to do.”
Gwent Police tweeted its motorcyclists had carried out proactive patrols on Friday night.
It said it stopped 10 “vehicles of interest”, issued six fixed penalty tickets for breach Covid rules and arrested a driver for driving while under the influence of cannabis.
The public… I guess there’s fatigue that has set in in relation to the rules and regulations
Dafydd Llywelyn
A further 16 deaths of people with Covid were reported in Wales on Saturday — the highest total since 28 May — with 1,324 more people testing positive.
The daily number of coronavirus deaths across Britain has fallen with 174 people dying — but cases have risen with 23,012 more infections.
New figures released this afternoon show a total 854,010 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 in the UK.
Meanwhile in central London today armed police officers have dispersed large crowds of anti-lockdown protesters at Trafalgar Square following a march.
Demonstrators called for an end to the “tyranny” of pandemic restrictions and voiced their opposition to vaccines and paedophilia, playing Michael Jackson’s greatest hits via a PA system as they marched.
At least two people were led away in handcuffs by officers at Trafalgar Square, and Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, also attended the protest.
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Professor Neil Ferguson, the man behind Britain’s March lockdown, said one or two days of relaxing lockdown rules wouldn’t cause the virus to drastically spread out of control.
He told BBC Radio 4: “If it is only one or two days the impact is likely to be limited.
“So that is really a political judgment about the cost versus the benefits.”
But he warned: “It risks transmission and there will be consequences of that. Some people will die because of getting infected on that day.”
Boris Johnson has said he is “hopeful” Christmas could be as close to normal as possible.
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— to www.thesun.co.uk
