IRRESPONSIBLE walkers, many of them dog owners, are ignoring the restrictions in force on public footpaths, bridleways and cycle paths, during the foot and mouth crisis.
In some areas, including The Wooldown at Looe, the signs have been torn down and thrown away.
Cornwall County Council who have issued the notices, have the authority to prosecute anyone caught flouting the rules and fining them up to the maximum of £5,000. They are also technically responsible for reporting anyone seen committing the offences.
But they do not have the staff levels to cope, so are relying on help from an already overstretched police force, and from concerned members of the public.
However, Sgt Dave Anning from police headquarters told the Cornish Times yesterday, that local police constables are now being asked to include special patrols of restricted areas when on duty, in a bid to clamp down on the law breakers.
'We are appealing to everyone to show commonsense' said Sgt Anning. 'The few fools who are still walking their dogs in the restricted zones could be depriving someone else of their livelihood for the sake of two weeks. They are being incredibly selfish and are running the risk of spreading the disease' he said.
But Sgt Anning said the police, local authorities and the farmers, are very grateful to the majority who are being helpful. There was praise on Sunday for the general public who kept off the moors at St Cleer Downs and Foredown. A snowfall meant in normal circumstances the area would have been full of families having fun.