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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:
MrsMop1964 · 28/04/2020 14:13

no but I have stayed in my local area, and haven't been near the city centre. My employer( technically the council, but I work in a school) issued me a letter stating I'm a keyworker and where I work in case of any problems on the way there and back.

Celeriacacaca · 28/04/2020 14:14

I was standing on the beach watching my 12 yr old swim in the sea and got told to go home. I had done my swim but he was swimming a bit longer so I was waiting for him. The police officer said that if I was standing still I needed to go home because I wasn't exercising.

And the police wonder why some people don't take them seriously!! I can't bear this lack of common sense or being able to assess a situation.

junecat · 28/04/2020 14:16

Yes on the first week of lockdown. They pulled me over, asked where I was going, I told them and they waved me on.

EricaNernie · 28/04/2020 14:18

no, barely seen them lately

bettybattenburg · 28/04/2020 14:18

No but a colleague was stopped on the way to work and asked. Round here the police are patrolling the country lanes on horseback - it says a lot about the area we live in.

I think they are more likely to be stopping cars with several people in.

TawnyPippit · 28/04/2020 14:18

My 18 year old DS was stopped when he was out skateboarding (London). They were perfectly polite, as was he. He explained he lived nearby, was doing an hour a day for exercise (on his own) and it was a great opportunity to use the local leisure centre car park as it had recently been resurfaced and had a couple of ramps. They agreed it was a great place to exercise and lucky time with no one around. He said he’s seen them a couple of times since and they have waved to him, all very chilled and non-officious.

cheeseislife8 · 28/04/2020 14:19

My Dad has, in the first or second week. He had his food shop on the front seat of his car, which they asked to see, then exchanged pleasantries and off he went.

I see a lot of police cars now when going to work but not been stopped myself as yet

justasking111 · 28/04/2020 14:22

Our police seem to be out run up to weekend tourists. DS has been stopped on his way to work, otherwise the police tend to stick to beaches, lakes, mountains routes.

Newgirls · 28/04/2020 14:22

No. Saw one while out walking and got a very cheery smile.

justasking111 · 28/04/2020 14:23

You are not allowed to swim on any of our beaches at all. Which seems a bit bizarre. They say it is to protect the rnli and coast guards from being called out.

whyayepetal · 28/04/2020 14:23

No, but DD2 has. She’s currently in student halls in London as are quite a few others. A group of them went out shopping, and were stopped by police and questioned as to their intentions! Police were lovely with them, and completely understood that they were a “household” and not just a random group of teenagers out for the hell of it. Food shopping had to be done (alcohol might have been purchased on the same trip Grin). Unfortunately, other members of the public have often judged without asking. DD2 just wishes they would either ask, or at least not tut/eye roll/make nasty comments. She’s 18 and trying to do the right thing.

Cosmos45 · 28/04/2020 14:24

I haven't seen a police car, or police officer since the lock down. In the first week there was a couple of helicopters overhead but that's about it.

baysidediner · 28/04/2020 14:25

@Noworrieshere and @Celeriacacaca

"I was standing on the beach watching my 12 yr old swim in the sea and got told to go home. I had done my swim but he was swimming a bit longer so I was waiting for him. The police officer said that if I was standing still I needed to go home because I wasn't exercising."

"And the police wonder why some people don't take them seriously!! I can't bear this lack of common sense or being able to assess a situation."

You shouldn't be swimming in the sea! The RNLI and Coastguard have requested that you don't during this time.

howells · 28/04/2020 14:28

I haven’t been stopped but we (me, dh and two mid-late teen dses) did get checked out thoroughly by the occupants of a passing police car the other day. We had been for a walk together and stopped at our local corner shop on the way home. I’d just come out of the shop- the others were waiting outside on the wide pavement area, and we were about to set off for home. I think they noticed a group that included older teens and decided to check us out, then clocked me and dh and, realising we were a family unit, drove on. It was very pointed!

Welshmaenad · 28/04/2020 14:30

Yes, we were out in the car as a family all together - to do some shopping (one adult going in) then to somewhere flat to take a walk (I have v limited mobility).

At first she tried to argue that DP could take my children for a walk and I could stay home so we didn't need to all be out together, and that exercise should be taken from the front door. I politely explained that this wasn't accessible for me and my mobility scooter, and that even crips have a right to go outside occasionally. I also pointed out that we were trying to get everything done in one journey outside (shopping and exercise) to minimise journeys. She saw sense and waved us on.

EricaNernie · 28/04/2020 14:30

i did walk on the front at the beach a few weeks ago, and the police were driving up and down most of the time.

lurker2003 · 28/04/2020 14:30

I was asked yesterday, on the train moving my belongings from my uni flat to my mums house.

safariboot · 28/04/2020 14:31

Not been stopped, but then been out less than once a week.

I think in a city like Birmingham where I live, there's enough people driving around with good reason and enough routes that it won't be too helpful for police to be stopping cars. The level of traffic isn't much less from normal non-rush-hour amounts; not much waiting at roundabouts or lights but still plenty of cars about.

Whereas an A road in the countryside heading towards a seaside town, that's the kind of place police can expect to stop a lot of lawbreakers, but some of the traffic will be locals making allowed journeys.

joystir59 · 28/04/2020 14:32

The men replacing my leaking very dangerous flat roof got reported by a neighbour and visited by the police. Neighbour in full knowledge that my partner has advanced cancer and is having chemo.

baysidediner · 28/04/2020 14:32

Justasking if someone gets into difficulty (or as often happens a passing member of the public thinks they are and calls 999), the RNLI get called out.

They are volunteers. It is impossible to observe social distancing in a lifeboat. It really isn't right to be sea swimming at this time and put them at risk that way.

widefitwife · 28/04/2020 14:36

I'm a community nurse and see lots and lots of police on my rounds.

I haven't seen them stop anyone yet, and they certainly haven't stopped me. I face a couple have waved and flashed at me! I got a clap and thumbs up from one of the vans the other evening! Blush

Kerryismystyleicon · 28/04/2020 14:38

@joystir59, that's is so awful Thanks

@Becca19962014 so sorry you're struggling. I took an overdose of my antidepressants about 10 years ago and then had to get weekly prescriptions afterwards for 2 months, it was a real pain in the arse and I can't imagine how stressful that would have been in these strange times.

stickerqueen · 28/04/2020 14:38

I've seen police moving people on if they sitting down on the grass of benches but not been stopped by police myself. I have noticed that there are more police around we have 2 walk past our at 4pm every day never used to see police walking around here only time i normally see them is if there's a crime going on.

Noworrieshere · 28/04/2020 14:39

It really isn't right to be sea swimming at this time and put them at risk that way

No you're right, it's probably not.

We're regular sea swimmers and there are lots of us locally, there must be at least 20 people swimming every day.

The police were not bothered about ds swimming, just about me standing still on the beach. They have never stopped any of the swimmers.

But we won't do it again for now.

Rebelwithallthecause · 28/04/2020 14:40

I live in urban area too and have been going out to appointments and sometimes just to take dc for a drive to help them sleep.
Not been stopped