DEVON and Cornwall Police have reported back on the policing they carried out over the Easter Bank Holiday period.

In support of the collective effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19, police officers took an approach of ’engagement, explaining and encouragement’ with enforcement used as a last resort, said Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew.

’As part of this operation, our local teams undertook increased high-visibility patrols which included carrying out over 4,000 visits to beauty spots and businesses across the region.

’Officers spoke with over 5,500 people during these targeted patrols across four days and 960 people were given verbal warnings for failing to follow the guidance.

’We can confirm that at least 169 people were issued with fines over the Easter weekend, approximately a quarter of these were to people living outside of Devon and Cornwall.’

In the South East Cornwall area, said Inspector for the area Rupert Engley, 140 vehicle checks were carried out, 25 verbal warnings were given but no fines were given out.

The Assistant Chief Constable continued: ’We shared the concern of our communities that a small number of people continued to breach the restrictions and were putting lives at risk.

’Our approach was to speak with people and I am really pleased that these figures show a proportionate response.

’With around 3 percent of these checks resulting in enforcement we believe that this shows that our officers used enforcement proportionately and as a last resort.’

ACC Mayhew said that the signs were there that Covid-19 restrictions were having an impact on transmission of the virus, and therefore it was important people continued to follow the rules.

’We all need to do our part to reduce the strain on our NHS as this will ultimately save lives. Policing with the support of our communities is our priority and we will continue to use discretion and only use enforcement as appropriate.’

While the Coronavirus is ’at the forefront of our minds’, Devon and Cornwall police has stressed that everyday policing continues as normal.

’We are still answering over 650 999 calls a day, still responding to incidents and still tackling crime and protecting the vulnerable across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly,’ said ACC Mayhew.

’My message to the public is that we are here for you.’