Police urging people to "stay local" after full up New Forest car parks

They're asked everyone to use their common sense

The PSPO came into effect earlier in the summer - with no fines issued this year
Author: Jack DeeryPublished 18th Jan 2021

Hampshire Police are telling people to only visit the New Forest if you live there.

While out on dedicated Covid patrols, officers have found every single car park in the National Park to be full of vehicles.

When asking members of the public where they had come from, some said places such as Guildford and Dorset.

The plea came from Totton Police's Facebook page whose team members have just recently stopped self isolating due to catching the virus.

They said:

"People are travelling from areas that are not local to the New Forest.

We are in a lockdown, you should only be travelling locally. Guildford is over 55 miles from the New Forest. This is not local.

While we still await the government to define what “local” is, please use your common sense and stick to your town/city.

The pandemic is very much real. The Totton team have only just recovered from self isolating due to contracting Covid-19. Please take this seriously."

The force hasn't confirmed whether anyone was fined for the visits.

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