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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you've been stopped by police and asked why you're out?

275 replies

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 28/04/2020 13:09

I've been out and about a LOT during lockdown. My reasons are legitimate (doing deliveries is the bulk of it) but that wouldn't be immediately obvious to a bystander when I'm driving around in an unbranded hatchback.

I've not been asked why I'm out of the house by a police officer even once since lockdown began, which surprises me. I live in a very urban area, and have seen plenty of them. I don't know anyone who has been stopped and asked. I'm curious to see if this is widespread.

YABU = I've been stopped by the police since lockdown began
YANBU = I haven't been stopped by the police

OP posts:
MrsAvocet · 29/04/2020 19:01

Its not a well known risk TopBitchoftheWitches
It had never crossed my mind either, until it happened to me. And even when it did, I thought I was freakishly unlucky, but once I read around the subject I discovered that actually it has happened to plenty of others, but for some reason doesn't seem to be publicised much. Why not, I don't know, as it is such a simple thing to do. My car's safety systems did what they were supposed to. I had some broken bones, but nothing that would have been life threatening had I not had that bloody ID badge round my neck.

Vynalbob · 29/04/2020 19:06

Given police a friendly wave a couple of times while out late walking mutley.
I sympathise with the poster that was confused about one way tesco... Had to go a few days ago and they must have an odd number of aisles as the last two were both pointing away from the checkouts...its also very tiring if you miss things (like me)... 5 laps and I still forgot two items.

MrsMozartMkII · 29/04/2020 19:08

Not been stopped ad not seen anyone stopped, but have seen a lot more police cars and vans pootling about. It's pretty rural so people are driving out to get food, etc., or they're coming in for exercise.

Havartitomeetyou · 29/04/2020 19:25

None here, and the streets are busy with loads of people sunbathing and meeting up. Though the council have put up signs saying you’re not allowed to stop l moving or sit down while exercising or coming back from essential travel, which pisses me off.

There was an attempted stabbing in our local Tesco and fortunately off duty police were able to intercede before anyone could get hurt.

AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 29/04/2020 19:28

Not even once. Ive been out and about a lot too- as I am a key worker who works in the community supporting vulnerable people.

Never been stopped.

catx1606 · 29/04/2020 19:43

No, I'm still going out to work and we have all been given a letter to show the police if we do get stopped. I've seen plenty of police about but I wear and ID tag round my neck which you can see when I'm out as I cycle to work

Catladiesrule · 29/04/2020 19:53

My sister lives in Italy.. She’s a district nurse.. And they’ve had it bad! The police over there are ruthless! Only one person per household allowed out, strictly for essential food shopping or pharmacy etc. This can only be done ONCE a day. NO outdoor exercise, and very heavy fines for people who don’t stick to these rules. If you have a shop near you then that’s the only one you can go to. You need written documentation every time you go out, giving name and address and explaining where you’re going and why. If you go out twice on the same day and you’re stopped, you will be fined. A friend of my sister was stopped when she drove to a bakery, not the one nearest to her home.. and she was fined €400. For these reasons, you’ll never hear me complaining about British police..

Wallyandasnog · 29/04/2020 19:57

We were aproached while out walking. Middle daughter fell and grazed her elbow. Sat down briefly to sort her. Police came over and offered hand sanitised and advised not to sit on benches. (Which we obviously wouldn't have if not for the injury) x

Leontine · 29/04/2020 19:59

No but they were at a beauty spot right by mine the other day questioning people. It felt really weird:

Janetizzy30 · 29/04/2020 20:30

Im a domicilliary careworker and a walking one at that. On the first week of lockdown before the sunshine i got stopped 3 times because i had a big black coat on over my uniform. I had to show my badge and tell them i was working. Not been stopped since though i know others that have x

cheapskatemum · 29/04/2020 20:42

I haven’t & I’m a key worker (support worker in a residential children’s home) & have been driving to & from shifts, 20 miles each way. I have my letter at the ready if I am. DS3 was stopped on his way back from doing the essential shopping at our nearest town 6 miles away. The Police asked him where he was going & he said “home”, they said they’d made a note of his car registration number & they didn’t want to see him out again otherwise he might get a fine Shock. Fortunately there are 3 other drivers & cars in our family during lockdown.

Xenia · 29/04/2020 20:44

No, but I am not even doing a daily walk, not once since lock down. I have driven to the supermarket once a week and to the post office as required for work so I suppose I am not hanging around in any sense. We now seem to get a police patrol car up our private road every few days - it was here again today - not sure why and today my son excitedly said a police lady on a horse was in the woods opposite our house. I presume she was just exercising the horse.

Alsohuman · 29/04/2020 20:58

How are you picking up all the rubbish in your private road if you haven’t been out @Xenia?

Lena18 · 29/04/2020 21:02

Same as prev poster stopped on way back from tesco noticed shopping in back and waved on stopped car in front asked same question and moved to side

Theflushedzebra · 29/04/2020 21:06

No - but I haven't seen any police either.

We live in quite a small village in Kent, and everyone seems to be following the rules of social distancing / staying home.

I walk the dogs, and I see a lot of people out walking and cycling (more than before the lockdown) but everyone seems v considerate and keeps a good distance.

Other than that, Ive only travelled to my mum & stepdad's house - who are in the vulnerable group - a couple of miles away in the nearest town. I did so today, and the roads were still incredibly quiet.

Rainbow · 29/04/2020 21:52

Stopped 3 times so far. Once in the car on the way to work, once at the station on the way to work and once on the way to the supermarket. Both times on the way to work, I was asked for my ID and letter from my employer.

helpIhateclothesshopping · 29/04/2020 22:24

I haven't been stopped, the only Police I have seen are the ones I stopped to help on the way home from work last week. I think it depends on what you are doing, probably more likely to be stopped if you are loitering in a park sunbathing with a group of people than on your own in a car or on a bike.

madisoncat · 29/04/2020 23:39

My sister -in-law and her son were stopped.

Her son was driving and they got stopped the policewoman was a bit curt and SIL was very calm and said she had broken her leg and was on her way to hospital.

She was interrupted and given a lecture about going to the nearest hospital not just out for a drive and SIL didn't look in pain.

SIL still calm, bless her, said if you'd let me finish I'll show you my broken leg - it got better.

More lecturing by which time SIL got out got her crutches and went to the boot of the car, took out her broken leg and said

  1. this is why my son is driving me

  2. we are going to the nearest hospital

  3. I don't have a spare leg it's at the hospital I'm going to collect it as it's had some adjustments. Now I'll be later for someone who's making special arrangements for me to get my leg.

But thanks for letting me explain before you got shirty.

Frazzled50 · 30/04/2020 01:27

Not been stopped while out galavanting by that I mean popping to the shop to grab a milk and a few essentials twice a week but while I was standing on my own doorstep. My daughter had nipped round to bring some food supplies (inc a case of beer for her dads birthday.) She parked at the end of our drive across the pavement, put the beer on her car roof while she lugged our shopping to the door, rang our bell went and stood by her car. We opened the door and she sang at full belt happy birthday to her dad and let off a party popper she then placed the beer between our door and her car. After about 10mins of chatting we were saying our goodbyes and our neighbours came out to go shopping as they wished hubby a happy birthday a police van pulled up. We just thought they were patrolling the area as we have a park behind us and groups of teenagers had been gathering. I put my hand up to acknowledge them and two officers got out. One said we have had a report you are having a party (I was like whooohoo someone’s booked strippers ) while looking at the five of us standing there and a case of unopened beer on the drive. Cut along story short ironically the local ‘alcoholic busy bodies’ across the road ( who have called the police out numerous times for most of the street ) had seen beer and probably thought we’re not invited so let’s waste police time and cause s**t in these surreal times. Anyway the police stayed and chatted with us for another ten minutes having a laugh then apologised for any upset than thanked us for being so understanding. We just thanked them for doing their job and added once this madness is over and you get reports of a party here pop along, to which we got smiles the thumbs up ( sorry I didn’t actually cut my story short 🙈)

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 30/04/2020 09:08

That’s dreadful frazzled

What is wrong with some people!

Frazzled50 · 30/04/2020 21:42

They are just dicks 😂

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 30/04/2020 21:43

Well yeah 😀

MoleSmokes · 02/05/2020 04:15

UK - high crime area - there were always police cars and helicopter around.

During lockdown - there seem to be more police vehicles around than usual but I have not been stopped on the street or in the park walking my dog or driving to the shops.

Sorry not read the whole thread but I am wondering, from seeing other reports online, if police forces in different places are reacting differently?

RosesandIris · 02/05/2020 06:48

I have seen them everywhere. I’ve seen them stopping other people and bellowing at people on a megaphone.

stuckindoors77 · 02/05/2020 07:51

My sister lives in Italy.. She’s a district nurse.. And they’ve had it bad! The police over there are ruthless! Only one person per household allowed out, strictly for essential food shopping or pharmacy etc. This can only be done ONCE a day. NO outdoor exercise, and very heavy fines for people who don’t stick to these rules. If you have a shop near you then that’s the only one you can go to. You need written documentation every time you go out, giving name and address and explaining where you’re going and why. If you go out twice on the same day and you’re stopped, you will be fined. A friend of my sister was stopped when she drove to a bakery, not the one nearest to her home.. and she was fined €400. For these reasons, you’ll never hear me complaining about British police.

This is not the Italian police force's "fault" though surely, they've had a MUCH stricter lockdown than us and they are reaping the rewards in terms of quickly reducing figures now. Only time will tell how our softer approach to lockdown compares to theirs I suppose.