Four people fined $17,900 each after failing to declare they had travelled from ‘Red List’ country

A single lie has cost four people flying into the UK a combined total of $A72,000, and stands as a warning to others who attempt to do the same.

Four passengers have been fined more than $A17,900 each for failing to declare they had travelled from a “Red List” country into the UK.

The passengers were stopped by officials when they landed at Birmingham Airport in the West Midlands, police confirmed.

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 fails to quarantine they face a fine of up to $A17,900.

Worse yet, if they lie on their passenger locator form about having been to a “Red List” country, they could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

UK’s temporary Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd told a meeting held by the West Midlands strategic policing and crime board: “By midday yesterday, 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.”

There are strict arrivals on passengers flying in to the UK. Picture: Ben Stansall/AFP

He added that for those who have “attempted to hide their routes” – “that’s not worked out”.

“They were identified and received £10,000 ($A17,900) fines as a result,” he said.

It is not clear which country the travellers had been in, but it is understood they were each fined individually.

The travel “Red List” includes Portugal, Brazil and South Africa.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last week: “People who flout these rules are putting us all 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.

Four people have been fined for not being honest on their travel declaration form in the UK. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images.

Individuals must pay $A1750 for their ten-day stay, which includes the cost of their hotel, transport from the airport and testing.

If passengers leave their quarantine hotel before their 10 days are up, they will be handed a $A8965 coronavirus fine – but this figure can increase up to $A17,900.

Guests must remain in their rooms and not mix with anyone else, with visible security in place.

They will be tested on the second and eighth day of their isolation period and if they test positive, they will be forced to extend their quarantine for up to eight extra days at a rate of $A269 per night.

It means passengers who test positive during their stay will face an extra $A2150 in hotel bills, the government confirmed today.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission