‘Police will use enforcement if they have to’: Britons warned to avoid beaches over bank holiday weekend

Public lavatories remain closed in many places, raising additional hygiene issues for visitors, councils say

People visiting Southend beach during hot and sunny weather in Essex on 21 May (EPA)

Though some lockdown restrictions have been eased, local councils are warning the public to stay away from beaches to help prevent the spread of coronavirus over the bank holiday weekend.

Police have said they are concerned high numbers of beachgoers could become a problem. Photographs of busy beaches in Brighton and Southend-on-Sea have raised concerns over social distancing.

Current government guidelines allow day trips to outdoor spaces including beaches, with members of the same household, but staying overnight is forbidden.

Asked whether the numbers arriving were becoming a problem on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Underwood said: “Yes, they are.

“And of course there is the obvious dilemma of the lockdown reducing and normal policing picking up starting to realise itself.

“For example, yesterday was the busiest day for Bournemouth police for nine weeks – it was a normal Friday, yet the police were the busiest they have ever been because things are starting to pick up and numbers are increasing.”

He added: “The main issue we are worried about is the influx of people coming into Dorset, and of course there are two issues – one is travelling to the southwest and the other is people attempting to stay in the southwest.

“If you are stopped on an arterial road in the southwest, the [police] forces could stop you and question you, and if they think you are planning on staying overnight, they can then go to the next level.

“They will use enforcement if they have to.”

In Brighton, where large numbers of people have visited the beach, the council has issued a statement saying: “Wish you were here – but not just yet.”

City councillor Carmen Appich said in a statement: “We are discouraging people from visiting the city at this time, not because we don’t want or value our visitors but because it is in everyone’s best interest right now.

“We don’t like telling people not to come to our city, it feels fundamentally at odds with everything we usually do, but we are still in a delicate phase of the recovery process.”

In Hastings, the council has produced retro tourism-style posters urging visitors not to come.

One reads: “Hastings… We’re not going anywhere. Neither should you! Save your visit for a safer time.”

Hastings Borough Council said: “We remain closed to visitors from outside the town at this time, and urges residents to keep up the good work of keeping infections so low in Hastings, despite the government starting to relax the lockdown rules.

Council leader Kim Forward said: “Our position is clear, it hasn’t changed. This is because our priority remains, and will always be, keeping our residents safe.“

Hastings council has produced posters urging people not to visit (Hastings Borough Council)

In Southend-on-Sea, which has already been in the spotlight due to apparently busy beaches, the council website states they are aiming to “discourage visitors”, but has reopened carparks and concedes visitors will continue to arrive.

“As much as we will continue to discourage visitors, the fact is that some will continue to come and we saw that even before lockdown was officially eased, not only in Southend-on-Sea but across the nations beaches, parks and beauty spots,” the website states.

It also quotes Essex Police, who said: “We are regularly on patrol in Southend-on-Sea, working alongside our colleagues from the Council, to ensure people are safe and abiding by the law.

“The government has provided guidance for people to keep two metres apart from those who do not live in your household.

“In line with the national approach outlined by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, this does not form part of the legislation and therefore not enforceable.

“We will continue to encourage people to do the right thing and follow government guidance for the safety of themselves and others.”

Rother district council, which has responsibility for the extensive seafront at Camber Sands, said: “Although the government has said you can now travel for exercise, high numbers of visitors at our beaches will make social distancing impossible and put our residents and visitors themselves at risk. The message from the council is clear – Camber is closed to visitors.”

In Cornwall, councils have warned a “visitor tsunami” could result in a wave of infections.

Popular beaches at Perranporth and St Ives have both been busy in recent days and carparks have reportedly already been full. With public lavatories remaining closed, locals have voiced concerns over hygiene.