Derbyshire Police Patrolling National Trust Sites

[DecemberSun]

I find it hard to believe that they can justify this amount of manpower stopping National Trust places from receiving visitors. Surely they have better things to do with their time. They were at 2 sites yesterday.

*Belinda554

The Peak District is the most used N park in England, most paths make it difficult to socially distance.
Have you thought about the pressure on mountain rescue?

I support them.*

Calke Abbey isn't in the Peak District and it's not up a mountain.

*Chatsworth is not a NT property.

I know people that live and work on the Chatsworth Estate, and people are taking the piss. Locals around the area know each other, there aren't that many of them and most are in some way connected with the estate, through work and family. All these people that suddenly turn up for a walk are not local, they just fancy a day out and think they'll be the only ones. They're not.*

I was at Chatsworth on Boxing Day before the current lock down admittedly. A 15 minute drive to Beeley Moor and a 9 mile walk which included Chatsworth where there were toilets open and a wagon selling food and drink. They were obviously hoping people would come. I don't know if this is the case now.

The story about the women travelling 5 miles to walk together and being fined for it is absolutely ridiculous. We are allowed to exercise every day and there’s no hard and fast rule about how far we can travel to exercise. We travel about 3 miles to our closest RSPB site or 5 miles to our closest NT site. I’m not going to stop doing this, it’s good for our MH.

We’re getting to a position now where 1984 is being used as an instruction manual. Terrifying.

@Anon6543 fully agree. It's people having others round to their houses that is far more likely to spread it than a walk at a national trust site.
I'm fed up of the revolving door half my neighbours seem to have and they never get caught or fined.

I'm in Derbyshire. Know of acquaintances cheerfully having groups of friends round in the evenings

People are almost certainly doing this because the lighter touch and covid safer rule breaking of having an outdoor distanced walk is being so policed.

The police action is specifically undermining the public health message.

What's the source of that photo? It doesn't have a date or time on it.

The leaves are on the ground and it looks frosty and damp. More likely to be within the last few weeks than in the March to May lockdown.

It is ridiculously over the top policing, and utterly counter productive. It is also unenforceable and I hope these fines are appealed.

A lot of these fines, if actually dished out, wouldn't stand up to even the mildest defence in a magistrates court, so if I was fined for a spurious reason I would plead not guilty and defend myself. However, I can honestly say that a copper round here is rarer than a cuckoo in Spring. I haven't seen one this year I don't think. Also, this 'local' idea depends totally on where you live. My nearest supermarket and chemist is a 20 mile round trip. A lot of people who live rurally are much further than that from the shops. It's all relative, as they say.

Wasn't it Derbyshire Police who published drone footage of dog walkers absolutely miles away from anyone in the first week of lockdown?

Someone in that force clearly has a power complex!

Apparently the post about Calke Abbey has been removed due to backlash, but the Foremark Reservoir story has been picked up by the press.

@DumplingsAndStew

What's the source of that photo? It doesn't have a date or time on it.

It was posted yesterday.

But suddenly it's been deleted. Why on earth would I make it up or fake a photo? Daft notion.

And there is a time on it.

I can still see the post by Swadlincote Police SNT

I agree that is ridiculous. From the link However, the actual legislation does not specify a maximum distance that people are allowed to travel for exercise.

Human rights barrister Adam Wagner said: "There is no law against travelling to exercise. The guidance is not legally binding and the police have no power to enforce it unless it is reflected in the lockdown regulations which in this case it is not

This is what I find confusing. If it’s not illegal, (and from the actual law it seems that you can drive 4 hours for a 5 minute walk if you felt like it), what basis do they have to actually fine you? Suggest you stay local, sure, but actually fine you? Am I just naively unaware of how other laws work, can you be fined for breaking guidance related to other laws?

@Meredithgrey1 They have no legal basis for issuing a fine. The police could have a word or give guidance, but they cannot lawfully issue a fine.

We have to remember that its close contact that transmits the virus, not level of adherence to rules that don't suit all circumstance

^^ this is what people cannot understand

If Debryshire police can do what they want, where does that leave us?

I support their actions. If it isn't local, don't go.

Plus the peaks are difficult at the moment. Slips, falls, breakdowns that they just don't need.

How hard is it to stay at home?

Plus the peaks are difficult at the moment. Slips, falls, breakdowns that they just don't need.

They were walking around a reservoir, they tend to be about the flattest most unchallenging walks you can find (often disabled accessible as well)

But they had to drive to get there in an area with black ice, not the safest roads to start with and all completely unnecessary!

So the police tell them off and say it is unnecessary travel, goes against government guidance and tell them to go home. They do not issue fines.

@Mintjulia

I support their actions. If it isn't local, don't go.

Plus the peaks are difficult at the moment. Slips, falls, breakdowns that they just don't need.

How hard is it to stay at home?

Fucking hard. Really really fucking hard. It's breaking me mentally.

With places like Calke, numbers are controlled by the NT. There is no over crowding. No parking problems.
There is ZERO justifiable reason to WASTE police resources on this POINTLESS powertrip.
Maybe the police should focus on policing real crimes that actually do harm to society.

And forcing people to slide around on icy pavements within a couple of miles of their house is hardly a great point of health and safety.

Local councillors are making out that it's illegal to walk for more than a mile from my house in 270⁰ because I'm surrounded by political boundaries on 3 sides!

That resevoir is 25+ miles from the nearest part of the Peaks.

Do we know why they are there i.e. have they been asked to attend by landowner, are they making a point - as someone said photo op or, are they genuinely needed - people kicking off/abusive. I cannot believe the first two are a valid use of police time in these awful times with rising crime, reduced funding etc.

Many people within the Peak District (me included) live in small villages or communities and have to drive to places if we want to go anywhere.

The Park at Chatsworth is not far off a main road and is properly maintained. It isn't dangerous and there's lots of space.

Mountain Rescue is always busy this time of year because of the sudden snowfalls and fog which materialises in an instant when you're up high. It's safer to walk or climb in groups but this is being punished at the moment.