A PERSON who was stopped by police for flouting lockdown rules said he was “entitled” to get “p*****” because it was the weekend.

Gwent Police have been patrolling areas across the region throughout the lockdown period, conducting vehicles checks and ensuring people are only making essential journeys.

And while the majority of the public are adhering to rules laid out by the Welsh Government, some continue to ignore them.

Last weekend, one person told officers: “It’s the weekend – I am entitled to get p*****.”

And this week, another person said they were “out for exercise”, but Gwent Police said the individual was sitting on a bike eating a pasty outside a shop.

Regulations laid out by the Welsh Government say: “The purpose of leaving home is to exercise.

“Going for a walk and then having a picnic or spending a prolonged period on a park bench, for example, is not considered to be exercise and is not intended to be a reasonable excuse.”

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Another person who was approached by officers said: “I went to visit my son as I haven’t seen him.

“I stood outside to speak to him through the window.”

Visiting family members, even if you obey social distancing measures, is not included in the “reasonable excuses” for leaving your home permitted by the government.

And on Wednesday, officers in Torfaen seized a vehicle after stopping a driver.

When asked why they were out, the person said: “Going to see my mate”.

A spokesman for the force said: “(This) is not an essential journey, especially when you don’t hold a valid insurance.

“Male reported and directed home with vehicle seized.”

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Superintendent Glyn Fernquest, from Gwent Police’s operational support, said: “If you do decide to go out, you may be approached by one of our officers. Expect them to talk to you about why you have decided to travel by any means.

“It is important that we do this, by educating our communities on the importance of staying at home and following non-essential travel restrictions, we can save lives.

“Those who continue to challenge and not immediately return to their home will be issued with enforcement action using policing powers.

“This is a national emergency and we need people to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. There can be no excuses.”

The other excuses officers have heard while out on patrol

• "I’ve just been to feed the fish."

• "I’ve been to buy nail clippers for the dog."

• "My son is a rubbish cook so I take him food every day."

• "I’ve bought a new catapult and wanted to try it out."

• "I’m giving my friend a lift to collect her car that had been seized for no insurance."

• "No idea what you are talking about? I don’t watch the news what going on?"

• "My dogs need different areas to walk otherwise it affects them."

• "How much is the fine - I will take it?"

• "I am taking my mate into Newport to buy drugs."

• "I am taking my quad bike for a walk and I promise I am not going ride it around a field."

• "I thought I heard someone may be in trouble, so I came to have a look but I don’t know their name or remember the person who told me it."