PSNI issue 15 fines in Mid Ulster for lockdown breaches

They also handed out 39 community resolution notices in the district since the restrictions were introduced by the Northern Ireland Executive at the end of March.

A total 358 penalty notices and 579 community resolution notices were issued across Northern Ireland with highest number in Belfast where 89 were issued.

The PSNI have welcome legal clarity announced by the Executive on Friday around the circumstance in which a person can leave the house to exercise, including reasonable travel. A drive to a safe space or facility will now be permitted.

However, taking a long drive to get to a beach, or resort where numbers of people may gather is unlikely to be regarded as reasonable, even for exercise.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said: "We said in our statement earlier this week that greater clarity in the regulations would have undoubtedly made our job easier to police this current health crisis.

"Therefore we welcome today's announcement and the clarity that the change to the regulations and any associated guidance will bring to the public and police officers alike.

"The objective of the police service during this period has always been and remains to help our health service colleagues slow the spread of the virus and keep people safe.

"We will continue to engage with people and explain what we need them to do and encourage them to follow the restrictions that are in place. Enforcement is always a last resort.

"The vast majority of people spoken to by police officers have cooperated well and a relatively small number of penalty notices have been issued to date.

“We have over the last two days implemented additional quality assurance measures in respect of police enforcement of these restrictions and these measures will continue until any new guidance is issued, implemented and bedded in.”

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