FOUR passengers have been fined £10,000 for failing to declare they had travelled from a “red-list” country.
The passengers were stopped by officials when they landed at Birmingham Airport, West Midlands Police confirmed.
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The passengers were stopped by officials as they landed at Birmingham AirportCredit: Alamy
Anyone travelling to England from 33 high-risk countries must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days, under new rules introduced this week.
If a traveller lies on their passenger locator form about having been to these countries they could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
By 12pm on Monday, four passengers were stung by the new rules, a senior officer from the force told a meeting of the local Strategic Policing and Crime Board.
It is not clear which country the travellers had been in, but it is understood they were each fined individually.
The “red list” includes Portugal, Brazil and South Africa.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last week: “People who flout these rules off putting at risk.
“We’re also coming down hard on people who provide false information on the passenger locator form.
“Anyone who lies on the passenger locator form and tries to conceal that they’ve been in a country on the red list in the 10 days before arrival here will face a prison sentence of up to 10 years.”
Birmingham Airport is one of five airports in England where people requiring hotel quarantine can enter the UK.
Individuals must pay £1,750 for their ten-day stay, which includes the cost of their hotel, transport from the airport and testing.
However, a second person sharing a room must pay £650, making the total £2,400 for two. The rate for children is £325.
If passengers leave their quarantine hotel before their 10 days are up, they will be handed a £5,000 coronavirus fine – but this figure can increase up to £10,000.
Guests must remain in their rooms and not mix with anyone else, with visible security in place.
