STREET revellers in Penarth and a man who failed to self-isolate with his Covid-positive wife in Barry are among 90 people who were fined by South Wales Police this weekend.

Despite the whole of Wales remaining under Alert Level Four restrictions, the force received more than 442 reports of possible Covid breaches.

While many did not amount to breaches, officers were left with little option but to issue fines to 90 people.

This comes after it was announced on Friday that Vale of Glamorgan Council officers would team up with South Wales Police over the weekend in Penarth following reports of groups gathering near businesses at the seafront.

Among those fined in Penarth were four men who travelled to the pier and were drinking alcohol in the street, while another four men were fined for travelling in the same vehicle from various areas of Cardiff and the Vale to visit Cosmeston.

Some of the other noticeable breaches were:

  • Three people from different households found mixing at and address in Penarth;
  • A man who failed to self-isolate with his Covid-positive wife in Barry;
  • A man who travelled from Porthcawl to Cardiff to take pictures for a photography competition;
  • 12 attendees to a house party in Roath;
  • Parents who drove to test out their daughters quad bike at fields in Bridgend, which also landed them with Section 59 warning in relation to use of the quad;
  • A man who was found at a Cardiff property – 28 miles from his home address;
  • Eleven people who attended a garden party in Cardiff;
  • Eight people who congregated in a garden shed in Sketty;
  • Three people who attended a child’s birthday party in Penlan, Swansea;
  • Nine people who gathered at a house for a gender reveal party in Townhill, Swansea;
  • Four people who gathered to watch the football in Mount Pleasant, Swansea;
  • Two people drinking alcohol in the street in Port Talbot;
  • Four people found a party at an Aberavon flat.

At the Esplanade on Sunday evening officers implemented a road closure in order to disperse crowds and conduct checks after they said too many people had gathered in the area throughout the afternoon.

Chief Superintendent Andy Valentine said: “Alert Level 4 restrictions have been in place since before Christmas and the legislation is clear. Multiple households shouldn't be mixing, be that indoors or outdoors, and people should only be leaving home for a limited number of reasons, such as shopping for essentials.

“While exercise is permitted and encouraged, Welsh Government has been clear that travelling to do so is not deemed reasonable, so to see dozens of cars at our beauty spot car parks again this weekend is frustrating and disappointing.

“Our officers were met with some serious breaches of the rules this weekend leading to fixed penalties being issued.

“I know that the restrictions are tough, but we remain in the midst of an extremely serious health emergency and we all have a part to play in helping to slow the spread of coronavirus and help ease the pressure on our NHS.

“Those unwilling to act responsibility by flagrantly breaching the rules should expect to subject to enforcement action.”