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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

107 replies

chomalungma · 14/04/2020 08:41

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.

OP posts:
PicsInRed · 14/04/2020 11:04

ProfessorSlocombe

The Greeks had links?
Golly, they were ahead of their time.

LaurieMarlow · 14/04/2020 11:05

I think it’s the police’s way of saying ‘don’t bother us with your petty squabbles’.

I can see it backfiring though.

PhilCornwall1 · 14/04/2020 11:09

I can imagine what my neighbour would say to someone confronting him. The poor chap is at the end of his rope as it is. I think the person having a pop would end up with whatever my neighbour had close to hand embedded in their head.

He's a lovely chap, but he's really at the end of the line with all this.

NurseButtercup · 14/04/2020 11:14

oh my days...
So there will be fighting in the street, leading to the currently empty A&E department's, overflowing with the type of assault patients they usually see on Friday and Saturday nights.

Beelzebop · 14/04/2020 11:17

When I spoke to my neighbour it was out of concern, I didn't want to report him I'm worried! That didn't even work though .

BrightYellowDaffodil · 14/04/2020 11:17

To quote from the article:

Devon and Cornwall police, which deployed military police boats to patrol its beaches and deter visitors at the weekend, was yesterday directing members of the public with tip-offs to the Ask Police site.

The site, a national database of questions and answers to help reduce the number of non-emergency calls, warned that forces “inundated” with reports might struggle to respond to them all immediately.

“We therefore advise that in relation to one-off incidents, you initially speak to the people about your concerns (if you can do so safely and within the social distancing measures),” it said.

Speaking to someone about “concerns” is different to “confronting” but it still lends itself very much to the Officious Twat brigade bustling out with their clipboards and binoculars, having appointed themselves to police who is going out and when. The arguments this will cause could be epic not least because these people usually have their own interpretation of The Rules that would make the Stasi look nonchalant.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 14/04/2020 11:19

I’ve already had a neighbour comment about my going out (which is to do with care of livestock, supplying stuff to those who are shielding, shopping for myself and/or using a laundrette, and absolutely nothing to do with him) but I was already feeling watched. This will make things even worse!

FaFoutis · 14/04/2020 11:20

That is very stupid of D and C police.

Umnoway · 14/04/2020 11:20

Dangerous ‘advice’ imo. You could be confronting a violent or even armed person, this could end up very bad indeed.

starsparkle08 · 14/04/2020 11:26

My disabled son was out with two carers who has driven him somewhere local for exercise as per government guidelines saying this can be done when someone has conditions such as autism and learning difficulties .
They were parked in a disabled bay. An angry little gnome reported them to the police despite the two carers ( keyworkers) having ppe and lanyards.
Police were very embarrassed about it all . I’ve got a sign now for my car so hopefully will help those angry little gnomes to leave us alone

Whatisthisfuckery · 14/04/2020 11:27

Well, what a marvelous idea, ask members of the public to challenge each other. How do we think this will go? Rank these scenarios on how likely they are to happen?

  1. A woman is walking down the street. A man confronts her to ask where she is going.
  1. A man is walking down the street. A woman confronts him to ask where he is going.
  1. A woman is walking down the street. Another woman confronts her and asks where she is going.
  1. A man is walking down the street. Another man confronts him to ask where he is going.
  1. Two women are walking together down the street. A man confronts them to ask where they are going.
  1. Two men are walking together down the street. A woman confronts them and asks where they are going.
  1. Two women are walking together down the street. A woman confronts them to ask where they are going.
  1. Two men are walking together down the street. A man confronts them and asks them where they are going.
Aloe6 · 14/04/2020 11:30

Ridiculous advice. The police should take the reports and promptly file them in the bin.

Like speeding, it isn’t the public’s job to enforce the law. I doubt 6ft men will be confronted, it will be those perceived to be weaker; women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities.

VictoriaBun · 14/04/2020 11:35

We live in a small cul de sac. I've seen our elderly neighbour have her family around several times a week. Another neighbour regularly has her adult daughter ' pop ' around for a few hours. Would I report them - no . Do I agree that it's ok to see people not living with you - no . But would I inform on them - no .
If they want to potentially pass it to everyone that's their prerogative . But , I'd be mightily pissed off on the NHS behalf if they expect treatment if gravely ill.

ThatLibraryMiss · 14/04/2020 11:40

onanothertrain
That will have some people on here pissing themselves with excitement

Nah, the cry of the curtain-twitcher and bosom-hoiker is "Someone (else) should do something!" They love the idea of reporting to the authorities so people get into trouble. Bonus points if they can watch said trouble from behind their net curtains.

PhilCornwall1 · 14/04/2020 12:00

Well, D & C Police, no more needs to be said.

LilacTree1 · 14/04/2020 12:04

OP sorry if I missed it

Is there anything official from the police? I’ll let my local
MP and the JHRC know if I can find something official.

1forsorrow · 14/04/2020 12:14

Well, D & C Police, no more needs to be said. As a resident in said area I have to sadly agree. I can't think of a positive thing to say about them.

HavenDilemma · 14/04/2020 12:23

As a single mother with no friends or family or neighbours who are in a position to help, this terrifies me. I already feel on edge when I'm out with her. I've already been screamed at once in Sainsburys.
I have to go to the big Co-op later to spend school vouchers (only valid at that branch) and I'm fucking nervous as I HAVE to take her or she'll be in her own or we'll starve and it looks like we're going to be started on again by the sounds of this thread Sad

This is ridiculous. HmmConfused

Statistician999 · 14/04/2020 12:27

I've seen our elderly neighbour have her family around several times a week

There are many vulnerable people in our communities living alone with a range of challenging conditions including dementia. Pre corona many were hanging on by a thread supported by a network of informal carers, lunch events, day centres and visits from elderly friends less frail than them. This has now all gone.

Life is desperately difficult for them. Many feel abandoned and do not fully understand what is going on. They cannot use the internet or in many cases the phone. Unless their family come round several times a week they will lose control of their lives - getting proper meals, washing, sorting out appropriate clothes, cleaning, working the TV etc etc. Dropping shopping off at the doorstep is not an option as they will not be able to unpack it and put it away. And they will forget to eat it.

Some families will be able to organise professional carers - but sadly carer visits multiply risks exponentially. Carers are exposed to their own families (which often include children still attending schools) and are visiting other vulnerable people all day, every day. Pre corona my DF had about 20 “regular carers” a week because they work shifts.

So the family coming round regularly may be the best and least risky option especially if the family are themselves social distancing.

I cannot help but notice that those who are now most enthusiastic about policing family visitors in my area are those who took no interest in anybody pre corona and therefore have absolutely no idea who is and is not vulnerable.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 14/04/2020 12:34

Officious Twat brigade bustling out with their clipboards and binoculars

You just KNOW they're going to have hi-vis as well...

B1rdbra1n · 14/04/2020 12:35

The police are encouraging vigilantism
Oh what a super idea 🙄😳

B1rdbra1n · 14/04/2020 12:40

If I see anyone starting on anyone else I will get my truncheon out👮‍♀️
That'll learn em, we can all pile and spreading the virus in a big ole brawl 🙄
or will it be a standoff with people shouting at each other to keep 2meters away.
How is this going to go down in the USA where people carry guns?

PhilCornwall1 · 14/04/2020 12:44

Officious Twat brigade bustling out with their clipboards and binoculars

With a Diploma in Clipboard Management to go with it.

PicsInRed · 14/04/2020 12:44

I'm fucking nervous as I HAVE to take her or she'll be in her own or we'll starve and it looks like we're going to be started on again by the sounds of this thread

Practice the hard stare and resting bitch face. Practice a willingness to tell people to fuck off (or push off, if you're more comfortable with that).

Being able to look a right hard cow has been an absolute saving grace to me as a single mother - especially now. You can actually see the little hamster wheel in their head spin as they think...then decide "best not bother". 🤔🤣

💐

Willow2017 · 14/04/2020 12:55

The police are going to be seriously busy sorting out all the fights that are going to start when the little Hitters get carte blanch to confront every Tom Dick and Harry they have decided are breaking the rules!
Most of the people screaming "you are breaking the rules" have no clue that they are wrong in the first place. This apparently includes many police themselves.

Its gonna spectacularly backfire.

Funny how they go on about how vigilantes arent needed nor welcome by the police at any other time but now its encouraged!