With a few weeks left until children across Wales can return to school, parents may be encouraging their children to enjoy the outdoors while they can.

Schools in Wales will re-open to all pupils on June 29 as part of a phased return.

But police have warned parents that they could be liable if their children break the lockdown rules in Wales.

South Wales Police were called to a group of 100 children found gathering at a former quarry at the weekend, and a group of around 80 youths were found gathering at a rugby club before leaving behind a "large amount of rubbish".

It comes as the lockdown rules in Wales have been slightly eased, with people now able to meet others from another household providing they maintain social distancing. The full rules can be found here.

South Wales Police said parents could be liable if their child breaches lockdown rules in Wales

On Sunday, it said: "We've had a number of reports of young people involved in anti-social behaviour - and we're urging parents to check where their children are.

"These reports include jumping into the water from a height - known as tombstoning - and underage drinking.

"Not only are these potentially dangerous, but some are illegal. They are also a breach of Welsh Government restrictions, for which parents could be liable."

What does the legislation say?

In a document prepared by the Welsh Government to help people understand the coronavirus legislation, it states:

"Where P is a child accompanied by an individual (“I”) who has responsibility for the child—

(a) the relevant person may direct I to take P to the place P is living, and

(b) I must, so far as reasonably practicable, ensure that P complies with any direction or instruction given by the relevant person to P."

In the rules, a "relevant person" includes a police constable and PSCO.

It adds that a fixed penalty notice can only be handed to someone aged 18 or over.

What does the Welsh Government say?

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Our regulations are in place to help protect people’s health and to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Wales.

“They include fines and if someone doesn’t comply with the law, that will constitute an offence. An adult accompanying a child is responsible for them if they are somewhere they shouldn’t be. If the police tell them they must leave and return home, the responsible adult must do what is reasonably practicable to ensure a child complies.

“Compliance with the regulations in Wales has been very good and the police in Wales have been taking a 4Es approach. They Engage with people, Explain what they need to do and Encourage them to comply – but they will also use their powers to Enforce the rules if necessary.”

What does the law in England say?

There are a number of differences between the coronavirus rules in Wales and England, with the latter recently relaxing lockdown measures more than in Wales.

London-based law firm The 36 Group said it is "partially-correct" under the English rules that parents could be prosecuted for failing to keep their children inside.

They said that parental liability arises from a specific set of rules within Regulation 8(5)-(6) of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020:

  • Where a child is outside of their home without reasonable excuse, and is with an adult who has responsibility for them:
  • A constable or PCSO can direct the adult to take the child home; and
  • The adult must (so far as reasonably practicable) ensure that the child complies with any direction or instruction given by the officer to the child.
  • Where the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a child is repeatedly failing to comply with the rules on staying home, the person can direct an adult with responsibility for that child to secure (so far as reasonably practicable) that the child complies with that restriction.

If the adult with responsibility (either parental responsibility or temporary charge of the child) fails to comply with these rules, they will commit an offence.