As the announcement of non-essential shop reopenings has been made, South Wales Police are reminding residents that the threat of the coronavirus has not gone away and that rules in the local area differ to those of England and the rest of the UK.

SWP said: "While this week has seen the reopening of some non-essential businesses in Wales, our communities are reminded that the threat of Coronavirus has not disappeared, and some restrictions – imposed for the benefit of us all – remain in place.

"Current Welsh Government legislation continues to allow a maximum of two households to meet outdoors and residents are advised to stay local, which is generally defined as within five miles of their homes.

"Our officers will continue to work to uphold the law, and we appeal to our communities to work with us and to take personal responsibility to comply with the restrictions.

"Enforcement of the Coronavirus legislation has always been a last resort for officers; in line with national policing, we've worked hard to engage with the public and encourage voluntary compliance.

"However, blatant breaches, such as large gatherings and house parties, leave us with little option but to take action."

Chief Superintendent Andy Valentine said: "The vast majority are continuing to do the right thing and are acting responsibly and cautiously. Unfortunately, there continues to be a small minority who fail to grasp the seriousness of the situation and do not seem to think the rules apply to them.

"During the past weekend alone, we were called to a number of alleged breaches, most of which transpired to be outdoor gatherings which were compliant with the rules but resulted in additional noise complaints.

"However, we also attended other large gatherings, including a birthday celebration with more than 100 attendees, large crowds drinking at Swansea Marina and a house party which resulted in four police officers being assaulted and needing hospital treatment.

"Not only were those individuals showing a complete disregard for the seriousness of the pandemic, and in doing so putting themselves and the wider public at risk, in the latter incident they also inflicted serious injuries on officers who are committed, public servants.

"Our officers do not go to work to be spat at, punched, kicked, bitten or threatened, and during these increasingly challenging times, they deserve the support of the public they are trying to protect more than ever.

"As restrictions begin to ease, I'd urge everyone to embrace the shift back towards normality, while remaining responsible and cautious. Any restrictions remaining in place will be there for good reason and should not need the enforcement of police for them to be adhered to."

Full details on the latest Covid-19 restrictions in Wales can be found on the Welsh Government website