Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 ··· 6 7 8 9 10 11

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:

Afolnerd · 02/05/2020 08:03

We have had lots of police cars driving round our normally very quiet estate.
The only person I know of that has been pulled over is my dad.
The police followed him home from work and stopped him.

They had read his number plate wrong and thought he was from Bolton. (We are on the south coast.) Quick chat and check of his license and all was fine. Other than being told to clean his number plate ASAP.

londonrach · 02/05/2020 08:16

My mums best friend and husband (he drives) were stopped as they live in devon. They were returning from the gp as my mums friend is on medication that will reduce her life by ten years to control a nasty disease hence why it has to be carefully monitored and doseage goes up or down depending on a reguarly blood test. Police were are nice, polite and friendly and they continued on their way after explaining where they been.

LalaLoopy20 · 02/05/2020 08:17

I've not but my daughter's bf has been stopped multiple times. He is young man, driving round in a young man's car, so wonder if this is why. He is a takeaway delivery driver.

londonrach · 02/05/2020 08:19

My mums friend is in the shelding group but the blood tests are arranged at her gp in a way that its seriously controlled and its in car there and back. They carried their shelding letter with them and will do next trip.

OneOfTheGrundys · 02/05/2020 08:22

No never stopped, only seen a police car once. I only drive to take food to my mum so that’s ok I reckon.

Aragog · 02/05/2020 08:24

No and don't know anyone w=ho has either.

I've only been out in the car a handful of times - shops and into school to pick things up.

Dh goes out in the car 2-3,times a week approximately - to work and back one afternoon a week, and to do collection/pick up of food or drop stuff off at a clients house. Sometimes teen dd goes with him to practise her driving - she was supposed to take her test just as this all kicked off and, as she's off to university this year, we'd prefer her to not have to have weeks of lessons before she's ready again.

Mil is living with us during this time but she has been home in the motorway once a week to collect list etc. At the start of this her and dh were returning to visit fil in a hospice and we all went out for the funeral, inc in the motorway.

Bil has driven about 3 hours each way to see his dad and for the funeral too, and has stayed at mil's bungalow too on occasions - which is currently empty.

My parents live near he beach and they walk on the beach a few times a week, all of which are deserted.

No police stops.

Xenia · 02/05/2020 08:25

No, not so far. The police seem to be driving up our road regularly now which is unusual as it's a private road and a police lady on a horse went into the wood opposite.

My son picks up medicine at the chemist and delivers to house bound in our car and even he has not been stopped. My older son drives to work every day (and he delivers groceries for a living) and he has not been stopped.

Complicated but lawful thing my son went somewhere yesterday on motorways and did not stop en route because we think police are at motorway service stations and best to be careful. Even he was not stopped yesterday.
I carry a copy of the relevant regulations in my handbag in a plastic folder - I am allowed to drive to and from work and at work as are most people under the regulations although police do not always realise that.

Aragog · 02/05/2020 08:29

It seems to be a trend that people who never run or walk have suddenly taken it up!

We are out for a walk a lot more. Especially during the week we normally don't have the time and work in different areas. Dh isn't normally home til,7.

We are both wfh but obviously that normally brings a bit more flexibility so we can fit in a walk together just after lunch or early evening.

cravingthelook · 02/05/2020 08:31

@saraclara yes I'm a gym classes kind of exerciser usually, now I'm a walker/runner I guess

yearinyearout · 02/05/2020 08:33

I'm out in the car every day as I'm volunteering on the other side of town plus shopping for my DM and I've not been stopped (neither has anyone I know)

imsooverthisdrama · 02/05/2020 08:44

No but then I only go out to supermarket every few days and my daily exercise.
I don't know anyone who has either , dh still working and he's not been stopped.
I've not seen as many police about recently than the first couple of weeks.

exLtEveDallas · 02/05/2020 08:58

I drive to and from work every day, once to the supermarket on the weekend and a couple of times a week to the common to walk the dog. Also in the last few weeks I have had to use the motorway to go to my parents 4 times. Never been stopped.

However DH has been questioned twice, both times whilst walking the dog.

It’s strange, there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.

dottiedodah · 02/05/2020 08:59

Well I only go to the SM in the car for food/essentials .Walk doggy on foot only.

puffinandkoala · 02/05/2020 09:34

There was an article in the Times saying that rural police were being a lot more hands-on than urban police. I live in a town and I think the police have been cycling through the parks checking for sunbathers and looking for speeding drivers but otherwise leaving people alone.

On the other hand my mum says she regularly sees the police driving/sitting in their cars in her relatively rural village but they've never asked her where she was going.

I have taken my car out twice for a 15 minute drive around the block to give it a run out, which is technically against the rules. But I figured a £30 fine was cheaper than dealing with a broken down car.

However DH has been questioned twice, both times whilst walking the dog that's completely bizarre, you're walking and you have a dog. I have to say I think we do need an all graduate police force. Some don't seem to have the brains they were born with. Not that having a degree means you have any common sense, but you'd hope it would confer some level of intelligence.

imsooverthisdrama · 02/05/2020 10:14

However DH has been questioned twice, both times whilst walking the dog
That's insane , and what do they say excuse me what are you doing ? Er walking the dog !

OneOfTheGrundys · 02/05/2020 10:19

No rural police here. 😞
Big spate of thefts, horse boxes and trailers stolen, arson, kids on quads etc.
Farmers round here seem more gung ho and chase people off their land and have the wherewithal to dig trenches etc but not most of us who live out here. There just aren’t enough police I think.

AppleKatie · 02/05/2020 10:38

There are nowhere near enough police to enforce anything this is the elephant in our country.

exLtEveDallas · 02/05/2020 13:36

That's insane , and what do they say excuse me what are you doing ? Er walking the dog

The first time he said he was really flustered and said he was waking the dog, told them where he lived, how long he’d been out and so on. The second time he said he just raised an eyebrow and said “Isn’t that a bit obvious mate?” PC wasn’t impressed (probably not helped by the dog growling at him - she’s scared of hats, any hats, so was pulling to get away)

justasking111 · 02/05/2020 13:43

I did see one farmer had over 100 lambs stolen one night, no-one heard or saw a thing.

If you live rurally, lighting, locking up sheds, outhouses, oil tanks, really is a good idea.

justasking111 · 02/05/2020 13:45

Yesterday our rural police found a large group picknicking in North Wales, they had come from Merseyside. That is taking the mick.

Xenia · 02/05/2020 13:48

Anyone complaining in the UK about people walking more than normal need to realise it is ill health and obesity which is killing the NHS and leading to much worse covid 19 symptoms . It is those not walking who are hurting the NHS, damaging nurses and probably ensuring their children are less likely to have a mother. On the day of lock down Boris J made it very very clear you need exercise for good health. The UK regulations do not limit the number of times a day you can go out to exercise of course www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/contents/made

justasking111 · 02/05/2020 13:50

Ah but in Wales only allowed to exercise once a day, strict limits on distance too.

Xenia · 02/05/2020 13:56

Good point - I wish we didn't have all these regional differences these days. Wales - once a day gov.wales/leaving-home-exercise-guidance#section-41067 Uk equivalent regs have no number of times limitation.

Hopefully we will move to a voluntary system soon anyway.

Nicknacky · 02/05/2020 14:20

A poster asked a few days ago where the extra police have came from. All of our office staff who are able to be re deployed have been put back on the streets. Various departmental initiatives have been suspended leaving those roles to not be needed temporarily so they are “spare”

I’ve been given uniform however it’s not been necessary to deploy us back to uniform.

And no, the legislation does not give them the power to ask where you are going etc. They obviously CAN ask but have cannot require you to answer. I specifically looked for that power when the legislation was introduced, it is a failing that there is no power.

GoatyGoatyMingeMinge · 02/05/2020 14:58

the legislation does not give them the power to ask where you are going
You're right - and not even any power to detain pedestrians briefly to ask.

it is a failing that there is no power

Not all of us would agree with that

It would entirely change the relationship between citizen and state.

Flip

1 2 ··· 6 7 8 9 10 11