Police chiefs in North and Mid Wales say increased police fines for people breaking lockdown rules don’t go far enough.

North Wales police and crime commissioner Arfon Jones says it is a big mistake to have a sliding scale of penalties for people travelling without a lawful reason.

People will only be fined the new maximum amount of £1,920 if they are caught breaking the law six times.

But the fine for a first time offence stays at £60 which, according to Mr Jones, is not a sufficient deterrent.

Mr Jones, a former police inspector, has campaigned for the introduction of steeper fines because he is concerned about the risk of spreading the virus in Wales.

He also conducted an online poll which showed that 91 per cent of the 2,000 people who responded were in favour of bigger fines, with 65 per cent of them opting for a fine of £500.

Mr Jones said: “The issue of fines has been a total shambles from the outset.

“First of all the Prime Minister caused consternation and confusion when he decided to go down a different route in easing the lockdown.

“It is now okay for people in England to travel as far as they want to do exercise within in England.

“But the law in Wales has not changed. Here people are not allowed to travel somewhere else for exercise or leisure – they are legally obliged to stay within the vicinity of their own homes.

“What makes things even more confusing for people is that the lockdown restriction in Wales are tighter than in England but the fines for breaking them here are smaller than in England. It just doesn’t make any sense at all.

“That’s why I and Dafydd Llywelyn, my counterpart in Dyfed-Powys, have been campaigning for an increase in the penalties so we can send out a clear message to people that they must obey Welsh law on this so that we can keep our communities safe."

In the current fine structure, a £60 fine is issued for the first offence and then £120 for each subsequent offence.

In the new structure, the initial £60 fine will be doubled for each subsequent offence up to a maximum of £1,920: first, £60; second, £120; third, 3240; fourth, £480; fifth, £960; sixth and subsequent offences, £1,920.

Mr Jones added: “The Welsh Government had been under increasing pressure to do something but I’m afraid this is a very timid fudge.

“It is crazy that you would have to be caught six times before you risked being fined the maximum amount of £1,920

“If there is evidence to increase subsequent fines there is evidence to increase the £60 fine for a first offence.

“We have all seen the result of easing the lockdown in England with people flocking in their thousands to the beaches and beauty spots, making social distancing nigh on impossible.

“If we don’t have stiffer penalties and a clearer message, we are risking an influx of visitors heading to the mountains and coast of North Wales.”

Announcing the changes to the fines structure on, which will come into force on Friday, First Minister, Mark Drakeford said: “I am very grateful to the chief constables and our Police and Crime Commissioners for all the work they have done to keep Wales safe throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

”The police have adopted a ‘4Es’ approach to the regulations – they have engaged people, explained what they need to do and encouraged them to comply. But when people haven’t responded, they have used their powers to enforce the regulations.

“Fines are a last resort in the enforcement of the regulations which keep us all safe.

“The evidence from the chief constables and Police and Crime Commissioners shows we need a stronger fines structure to deter that small minority of people who persistently fail to keep to the rules.”