Of these, says the force, 699 were deemed suitable for further action by officers, under the ‘Engage, Encourage, Explain’ approach, and 36 fixed penalty notices were issued.
This figure includes nine fines for outdoor gatherings, four fines to people for leaving house without reasonable excuse and 15 notices for indoor gatherings.
“We have undertaken high-visibility patrols across the force which has resulted in over 800 stop-checks and around a dozen fixed penalty notices being issued,” said a force spokesperson.
“Our roads do appear to be quieter as shown by the notable reduction in road traffic collisions since lockdown, and crime is down around 11 per cent compared to pre-lockdown figures. 999 calls are down around 10 per cent but calls and contact to our 101 service is up around 23 per cent compared to the week prior to lockdown.”
Devon and Cornwall Police says that it operates over the largest geographical force in the country and “cannot be everywhere at once, so it is vital that all are doing their part in adhering to the rules of lockdown”.
However it say that the vast majority are complying with the regulations.
“We continue with a 4Es approach (Engage, Encourage, Explain, Enforce) and would reiterate that personal responsibility from all of our communities remains critical.
“We ask our communities to follow the spirit of the Government’s Covid-19 guidance, not just the letter of the law. ”