Police 'saddened' as campers found breaching lockdown rules in north Wales
Police were left speechless after finding three men camping on a mountain north Wales during lockdown.
Rural crime officers discovered a tent on Moel Famau in the Clwydian Range on Sunday morning. Three men aged between 18 and 25 were reported for breaching Covid-19 restrictions.
Police forces across Wales have been warning people to stay away from tourist destinations over the bank holiday weekend.
The First Minister reiterated on Friday the importance of following the stay-at-home rules for the time being, particularly ahead of the bank holiday weekend.
He also issued a reminder that new, tougher fines are now in place for those who repeatedly break the rules.
An officer for north Wales' rural crime team shared an image of the tent on Twitter, saying: "I don't really know what to say... 3 males reported for Covid offences."
North Wales Police also found a camper van in Coed y Brenin near Dolgellau on Saturday, which had travelled more than 200 miles from London.
Rob Taylor, from the rural crime team, said: "Sadly, despite numerouswarnings and the awareness of the current pandemic and the risk to ourcommunities, some people flout the law.
"It's sad to see, as many others are adhering and these peopleselfishly risk the spread. Giving fines is not what we want but thisis the result on this occasion.
"Some people's selfish, irresponsible behaviour also risks the spreadto my officers and ties up their valuable time, which is needed tohelp those who really need us."
A person who travelled 80 miles from Conwy to go fishing was called out by a north Wales police boss on Saturday.
Chief Constable Carl Foulkes praised officers for doing a "great job" enforcing restrictions.
Three men from three different addresses were also stopped by officers after travelling over 100 miles from Manchester to Anglesey on Friday.
Later that same day, police sent two men back home after they travelled more than 125 miles from Stoke-on-Trent to Newborough Beach.
Arfon Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales Police, said the movement of people from more densely-populated areas with higher infection rates to more rural communities was creating "tensions".
Police checkpoints remain in place on Sunday on the Britannia Bridge and Menai Bridge in a bid to deter people from visiting the island.