Police ask the public to confront other people who are not following guidelines

[chomalungma]

Because they have been overwhelmed by calls.

I heard it this morning on the Today news section on Radio 4. Haven't seen it elsewhere...yet

They said things like "Getting calls saying their neighbour has been out twice today for exercise"

AIBU to think this sounds like a really bad idea.

What does?
I mean reporting neighbours for petty misdemeanours was always going to end like this.

And I’m thankful- the alternative ending is straight out of 1984 or the third reich.

The police haven’t had time to investigate actual crimes for years what made people suddenly believe they and the resources to enforce a full lockdown is baffling.

Some people on here will love this I'd imagine. They've been waiting for the go ahead to unleash on Bob down the road for going to the shops twice a week.

I don't understand why people give so much of a shit about what others are doing, I've got people on Facebook constantly posting about it, it is SO boring. People should just worry about what they themselves are doing , you can't control other people's actions, as much as you'd like to

Oh blimey I misread your OP! I thought you said ‘not to confront’.

Yes this is batshit and won’t end well.

Well, that will dramatically increase the number of affrays they are called to, I would imagine.

The police would have been better advised not to impose arbitary rules (number of times acceptable to go out; essential types of shopping) which they had no legal power to enforce in the first place, let alone encouraging the public to enforce them. This is a problem they have created for themselves.

They've been waiting for the go ahead to unleash on Bob down the road for going to the shops twice a week.

Wait till they "accidentally" find his receipt in the recycling and see he bought two packets of biscuits AND a bag of maltesers! They're going to have a field day at his disgusting extravagance.

I give it until lunchtime before a “clarification” is issued

Because otherwise the police may not be dealing with lockdown guidance “breaches” but they will be dealing with assaults and public order incidents.

The point being made by the police is that people need to stop reporting trivial breaches and sort it out among themselves. Only call 101 for the blatant repeat offenders, large parties etc.

We already have someone doing that in our village! He is stopping people he doesn't recognise.

The thing is, I don't recognise him, I've never seen him before. So when he stops me I think I will give him the third degree back.

Some people love the drama of it, so no, this wont end well.

Sounds like a bad idea to me. The police aren't handling this crisis well are they?

The national usage of the phrase "Oh, piss off" is going to increase exponentially.

...sort it out among themselves

And how on Earth is that going to work? “I’m sorry Maureen but I’ve definitely seen you leave your house twice today. Would you care to explain yourself because I think you shouldn’t be out.”

Confront people about the actual guidelines or the competitive isolation busybody's version of them?

Maybe it will have the desired effect. Because most of the people falling over themselves to log it with 101 or rant on social media will probably be less keen to go out and speak to someone about a perceived indiscretion face to face.

That'll definitely end well

Sounds like a bad idea to me. The police aren't handling this crisis well are they?

Well when they have a moronic general public ringing them to say their neighbour left the house twice in one day, they don't stand a fighting chance do they?

That will have some people on here pissing themselves with excitement

Is this really true? Hello vigilantes. 🙄

They'll be setting up citizens patrols in a minute. A terrifying proportion of people are just raring to go full facism. It's something I have often suspected but to see it in action is truly horrifying.

Love it @Tableclothing

In fact, love how most of you are writing in this thread. A much-needed reminder of why I love MN

“There’s a lockdown on you know!”

So maybe those online forms for reporting your neighbours... People have to answer a quiz, like this, to check their understanding of the legislation first before proceeding to the form.
It would educate and weed out all the petty complaints at the same time.

eachother.org.uk/quiz-how-well-do-you-know-coronavirus-lockdown-rules/

The national usage of the phrase "Oh, piss off" is going to increase exponentially.

That and "you can fuck right off, mate".
Might wear "fff" right out, I'll have to deploy it so much.

"You wanna take this outside?...Oh, we're already outside..." 🤣

The police are just encouraging bullying and harassment - we all know that lone women, women pregnant or with kids and ethic or religious minorities will be disprotionatrly harassed as a result.

Bravo police. Right within expectation there.

What a shit show

@Neverenoughcoffee

The reporting form could also be designed where it says 'which of the rules are being broken' and unless you can pick exactly one of the rules, you can't submit the form.

I did the quiz and got 8/8.

That's so funny that you've mentioned increasing use of oh piss off etc.i have genuine concern for a neighbour who is carrying on his dodgy business, he's lovely normally. I tried to speak to him yesterday and he laughed at me, and I was called a silly girl. Unfortunately, at the end of tether it was me that said oh piss off then. Encouraging people to get involved will definitely increase aggro.