Coronavirus: Three people fined after being stopped by police towing a caravan from Essex to Lincolnshire

Three people have been fined after being stopped in Newark towing a caravan from Essex to Lincolnshire, deliberately flouting the new coronavirus regulations.

Nottinghamshire Police officers issued fixed penalty notices under the new powers after stopping the trio on Farndon Road, Newark, at 3.35pm on Sunday.

They stopped the caravan after noticing there was no number plate displayed. On further inspection it became apparent they had taken a 300-mile round trip from Lincolnshire to Essex to buy the caravan from a private seller, which paper work for the sale of the caravan showed.

The two men, aged 52 and 38, and one woman, aged 30, were each reported for summons for a breach of coronavirus restrictions and issued fines.

Pc Richard Bombroffe, who stopped the vehicle, said: “Towing a caravan while we are in lock down is clearly going to attract suspicion as it is highly unlikely this is going to be a necessary journey under current lock down rules.

“Then we noticed it didn’t have any number plates. The occupants of the towing vehicle stated that they had been returning to Lincolnshire after collecting a caravan bought on line from Essex.

“This is clearly not an essential journey so all three were reported for summons and tickets were completed back at Newark station.

“This was the exact type of breach we should be prosecuting and issuing tickets for. These people have deliberately flouted the rules putting their own and other people’s lives in danger and this will not be tolerated.”

Police can issue penalty notices of £60, reduced to £30 if paid within 28 days, where they have reason to believe there has been an offence under the regulations.

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