Four people fined £10,000 at Birmingham Airport for breaking new travel rules
Yesterday was the first day of the government's hotel quarantine rules
Last updated 16th Feb 2021
Four passengers were fined £10,000 each after failing to declare they had arrived in the UK from a "red list'' country, police said.
West Midlands Police said the offenders were caught after landing at Birmingham Airport on Monday, the first day that tougher border rules were implemented.
Travellers arriving in England who have been in a country at high risk of coronavirus variants in the past 10 days must declare this on a form and isolate in a hotel for at least 11 nights at at an initial cost of £1,750.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd of West Midlands Police told a meeting held by the force's strategic policing and crime board:
"By midday yesterday (Monday), on the first day of implementation, we have received six passengers who had declared travelling from a red list country, who were taken to the quarantine hotel.
"We also had four passengers who were identified as having travelled from a red list country, that hadn't declared it.
"So there are some people who have who have attempted to hide their routes but that's not worked out.
"They were identified and received £10,000 fines as a result.''
There are 33 countries on the Government's "red list'', which includes Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, South America and southern Africa.
West Midlands Police sent this statement:
West Midlands Police has a proportionate increase in policing at the airport in order to support checks with regards to essential only travel.
Fines for breaches for those entering the country and in breach of Covid regulations are issued by UK Border Force police.
The safety of passengers is a key priority for us and we will continue to engage with passengers to ensure they are only at the airport for essential purposes only and encouraging those without good reason to be there, to go home.
Enforcement will be used as a last resort for those who fail to comply with the regulations.
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