Confusion over lockdown easing is “total shambles” and could cause influx of visitors to North Wales, warns police commissioner

The “utter confusion” around the easing of lockdown restrictions has been slammed by a police boss who warned it could lead to a new influx of visitors to North Wales.

According to Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, the announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that people in England will now be allowed to drive to take exercise had created a “total shambles”.

He fears that people from across the border will now believe they can head to the region’s mountains and coastal areas.

The new guidance from Mr Johnson was contrary to regulations in Wales, where the stay at home message is still in force.

Although people here can now go out more than once a day to take exercise, they can only do so in the vicinity of their own homes.

Mr Jones stressed that the message from North Wales Police remained the same and they would still be stopping cars and fining people who did not have a good reason to be out on the roads.

But, he said, the confusion would make it much more difficult to enforce the regulations during the three-week lockdown extension.

Mr Jones said: “It’s going to be difficult to differentiate between people who live in North Wales and those who travel over the border. It’s a total shambles.

“We need to specify the travel for leisure and exercise in Wales is still non-essential and they still commit an offence by doing what is legal in England. We need further guidance from Westminster and Cardiff.

“Otherwise, it’s going to be difficult to get the message to people in England that the situation here hasn’t changed – and that they are still going to be stopped and still going to be fined if needs be if they have broken the law.

“The danger is that people will be travelling to places like Snowdonia and the Llyn Peninsula from cities like Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham because they will believe they have been given the green light to do so.

“It’s made our work here in Wales so much harder and it is so unnecessary.”

Last night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a pre-recorded statement about changes in England, but did not make the difference for people living in devolved nations clear.

First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford immediately pushed back on Mr Johnson’s “stay alert” slogan change, stating that staying at home remains the best way that you can protect yourself and others.

He said: “This evening, the Prime Minister has set out the minor changes, which are proposed to the lockdown rules in England over the next three weeks.

“I set out the modest changes to the stay-at-home regulations we are making in Wales on Friday. These will come into force tomorrow afternoon.

“Here in Wales, we will change the regulations so people can exercise more often and allow garden centres to open, if they can comply with social distancing.

“Our advice has not changed in Wales. Wherever you can you should stay at home. If you need to leave home for work, exercise or shopping, you should stay local and stay alert. Coronavirus has not gone away.

“The way we behave over the weeks ahead will continue to have a profound impact on our NHS and our ability to save lives. If you go out, stay local and stay safe.”