I don't understand why Police aren't organising the traffic

[GreatPotato]

A lot of the chaos here is caused by queues from the petrol stations blocking the main roads.

Two bus routes have announced they're not running today because they can't get through and a large proportion of staff at the school I work at are running late, not because they don't have fuel but because it's gridlock around every petrol station. How can that just be left?

Local police have actually put out a message about how outrageous it is that people are wasting their time calling about traffic disruption.

I know they'll say lack of resources etc, but they seemed to have the resources to break up picnics. Surely this is exactly what police time should be used for in a crisis?

We’ve had it in Sheffield. Up north.

I'm glad the police aren't getting involved. Selfish blood motorists are to blame. People need to sort themselves out. Worse than kids.

I think men attacking each other at petrol stations is a police matter. So are motoring offences that endanger the public. Or are we not bothering with stuff like that more?

I wish the police on the ground well getting through this, btw. And all the other emergency workers and tanker drivers. Must be absolutely crap.

But the response does need direction from up top.

We had terrible problems on the school run yesterday because the bus was stuck in gridlock due to queues for petrol station. Fortunately for us the station's run out now so we're back to normal.

None of the petrol stations near me are even open (london) I've not been able to fill up for days now and beginning to panic as unless I can find somewhere to fill up soon I'll run out completely and be unable to get to work tomorrow. Already cancelled a number of work related things but tomorrow is very important.

Can't just drive round and see if anywhere has petrol as traffic is insane and again I'm scared of running out. Total nightmare atm.

There isn’t enough police.

YANBU. I'm on a main artery through my town not far from a petrol station and there are two queues of traffic on one side of the road. People keep overtaking it and blocking people coming the other way.

It's been like this since before 9am.

I’m not sure why the expectation is that this will sort itself out in a few days when everyone has refuelled. Surely it will just start again because you drive abd use your fuel and need to refill

Unless they can increase capacity they are not going to solve this.

They were yesterday when I was out in Beaconsfield.

@Whinginadeville

It'll be over in a coue of days all the twonks will have full tanks and cannisters all those genuinely in need will be full. The RHA boss won't have achieved his cheap EU labour aims and we can just get on with our lives until the next unnecessary media fuelled frenzy. It's been a nice distraction from the Labour Conference shit show so they've benefitted too.

I honestly hope you’re right but I’m not convinced.

Our local force said traffic is the responsibility of the local authority. Ultimately, people queuing aren't doing anything illegal but it does inconvenience others.

It's mad near me too. I've probably just got enough to go and do a food shop but that's it
Everything else I've cancelled

@Shurl no issues here too but we only have two petrol stations, both refuelled now. I suspect it's more of a city problem though

Because the police are horrifically under staffed due to years and years of cuts under Tory rule.

Because the police are currently busy plugging the huge gaps in mental health services by attending concern for safety calls

I'm South East and is has been chaos at times , its starting to be sorted. There have been some absloute idiots about blocking roads , roundabouts ect . Mind you they allowed a garage in the most stupid place , although we thought it would be accidents rather that blocking and entire stretch of road .

To go all conspiracy theory: The central government denies there is any real problem and blames it on the general public. They don't want police deployed to manage petrol station queues because that would be closer to admitting there's a problem.

But is there no legal obligation on private businesses to ensure safety if their customers are queueing on the public roads?

So which is it?

There isn't a problem.
There is a problem, but it's not the police's problem.
The local authority should be dealing with it.
It's the public's fault so who cares.
It's isolated outbreaks of fighting anyway.
The police don't have enough officers available to deal with the problem.
The Tories.
Stop buying petrol.
There's no problem now.

The crazy traffic on my road finished just before 5 when the pumps ran out. I'm surprised noone was hurt.