Police fine 39 for weekend lockdown breaches in Hunstanton

Dozens of fines were given to people breaking coronavirus lockdown rules in Hunstanton last weekend, despite pleas for people to stay away.

Senior officers have today warned they will continue to target coastal areas and beauty spots, after incidents in the town accounted for nearly half of all the fines issued in Norfolk as a whole.

With warmer, drier weather forecast, officers and community leaders had pleaded for people to "Explore from Your Door", rather than make unnecessary journeys.

But figures released by Norfolk Police a short time ago showed 39 fines for breaches of the rules were issued in Hunstanton, out of 87 across Norfolk. A further 98 warnings were also given.

The offenders included a man and a woman who had travelled from Hull for a walk, two men from Bury St Edmunds who went to film a music video, a man from Northamptonshire who went to walk his dogs and a woman from Melton Mowbray who travelled to visit the beach.

Temporary Superintendent Nathan Clark today said it was vital that people stick to the restrictions for now, because of the continuing fall in infections.

He said: "We get that it’s tempting, but travelling long distances to get fresh air and go for a walk is not regarded as essential.

"Officers will continue with their dedicated Covid-19 patrols this weekend, again with a focus on beauty spots and coastal areas.

"Any journey we make should be for an essential purpose only, and where this is blatantly ignored, officers will be left with no choice by to issue fines."