DORSET Police have called for communities across the county to stay the course and continue following Covid lockdown restrictions.

Assistant Chief Constable Sam de Reya, who reminds residents the entire country remains in full lockdown, says people should stay local to exercise– meaning in your home village or town

And for those who blatantly breach restrictions, particularly those from outside the county – such as the 31 people reported for breaching travel rules at Durdle Door on Sunday– a stark warning is in place.

Read: Poole family fined for going to Bolton's Bench in the New Forest 

"We will continue to engage, explain and encourage people to follow the rules, however if blatant breaches take place we will move to enforcement," said the assistant chief constable.

Ms de Reya said: "While people are allowed to leave home to exercise, the government is asking the public to stay local when doing so. This means staying in your village or town and not travelling further to other areas because you’d like to visit your favourite beauty spot.

“No matter how challenging it may be, it is really important for everyone to continue to follow the rules over the coming months.

"We all have a responsibility to stick to the restrictions to ensure that we can move forward and not have to take a step back.

“I am really grateful to the large majority of our communities for behaving so responsibly."

Read More: 100 vehicles turned away from Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door

Ms de Reya said that the government has announced its roadmap for how lockdown restrictions will be gradually lifted this spring and summer and it is reassuring to know that we should soon be able to see our friends and family, take trips away and enjoy meals out.

The assistant chief constable added: "We are aware that this weekend a number of people travelled from outside of Dorset to visit popular beauty spots in Purbeck and officers had to turn a large number of cars around and issue fixed penalty notices to some.

"I would like to reassure Dorset residents that our dedicated Op Tattoo officers are continuing to patrol these areas and the main routes into the county to ensure that people are sticking to the rules and keeping our communities safe.

"We will continue to engage, explain and encourage people to follow the rules, however if blatant breaches take place we will move to enforcement."