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

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

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

I have, whilst stood at a bus stop waiting for a bus to work. The officer was very polite, we had a nice chat and a joke, it was all very cheerful. I live in the town center and there have been people meeting up so I'm quite grateful the police have been checking, more people they send home the less risk I'm put at on my way to/from work.

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

Yes this is the problem. Although you might not be in trouble, quite often the RNLI pager goes off (DH who is also a police officer ). It is often a well meaning member of the public thinking you are in trouble.

Our local sea swimming group are insisting that that's not their problem and continue to do it. I really despise some of them now for deliberately putting our volunteers at risk when our crew include police, paramedics, nurses and prison staff.

I haven't, but I intentionally don't drive on main roads for this reason. But dh was while driving on the main A road near our house. We generally don't really go out though (dh goes to work, very rurally, and I go to pick up a veg box once a week; otherwise, haven't been out of the house in 6 weeks).

Thanks for the understanding and the pp who included a link to new guidance.

Our police are approaching anyone in the sea as well and explaining why it's too dangerous for now. I've seen on their Twitter that people have been understanding when it's been explained.

People are being stupid around coastal areas though. Going swimming (I appreciate the pp has said they're going to stop I'm not referring to them); people going diving; hanglinding; surfing and bodyboarding and those are just the people who have needed the coastguard/rnli to go out. It's not much down on usual shouts. But they have begun a social media campaign and involving other agencies like police which I think is helping.

No but I’ve followed the rules so 🤷🏻‍♀️

nope drove 35 miles to london it was early hours and back to take dh to work and nothing didnt even see any

@Becca19962014 it's really bad isn't it. The local sea swimming group were spoken to and said they don't care, they'll continue to do it, their mental health is more important.

More important than my DH's safety who has performed CPR on one of them in the not so distant past!!

And now they've taken to going out swimming at sunrise and sunset. The light is making it difficult to tell what's going on and passers by have called "just to be on the safe side".

Nope - but I only go out in the car once every 9-10 days to the supermarket.
The only other time I'm out I'm walking my dog.

"I've seen on their Twitter that people have been understanding when it's been explained."

This though you can take with a pinch of salt. They're trying to keep spirits up. As well as the notion that telling the community that people are complying, will encourage more to do do.

In our area the police social media accounts aren't reflecting what they are actually experiencing a lot of the time.

I haven't and I've seen plenty of police about, when I've walked past any of foot patrol they've usually said hello.

They still need a reasonable excuse to stop you and ask what you're doing so unless you're loitering anywhere or otherwise looking like you're potentially breaking the law I wouldn't expect to be stopped.

I haven't but a few colleagues have (key workers travelling to work)

Two mounted police stopped on a rural path to ask if everything was ok. They didn’t ask why I was out, I think they wanted to know if I’d seen any gatherings etc and it’s the sort of area where people did go for picnics , football games etc at the beginning of lockdown.

We live in North Wales, lots of spot checks going on here as people continue to travel to the area from many miles away. DH was stopped on the way to the shops and I was stopped taking a stool sample to the hospital for DS who was unwell. The police officer said he'd never heard that one before. All very good humoured and supportive here.

OP

They may know you’re volunteering from ANPR + other data gathering

@RollaCola84

"They still need a reasonable excuse to stop you and ask what you're doing"

The current "lockdown" is their reason. They can ask anybody at anytime. The police don't need "excuses"

Yes I have. Well it more of a chat I think and I've been stopped before late at night walking back from work and basically asked the same questions.
Asked my name, where I live and where I was going. Told them and that I was volunteering and combining that with shopping and exercise.
They then thanked me for helping with the community, wished me a nice day and drove off! I was walking. They didn't ask to see my badge showing I'm a volunteer. They've driven past me since and haven't stopped again.

yes we were stopped walking and asked rather abruptly “what do you think you’re doing?”

This was at the very beginning of the lockdown when some people thought the police were being too harsh and rude.

Now the local police seem like they’ve stopped doing patrols and there’s much less social media presence from them too

No,I drive every day to take my dog for his walk,he is reactive so can’t walk him round the streets.

I only drive a couple of minutes to the edge of the village to take him over the fields,yesterday there was a Police Van in the lay-by,nothing was said.

I live near a busy part of the A38,it is shockingly busy compared to a fortnight ago.People with no income have gone back to work.

@baysidediner actually they do. to you too

HTH

I think “reasonable excuse” is terrible wording. It’s like they’re expecting dishonesty and they want people to get their stories right.

A “reasonable explanation” or something similar sounds more positive and trustworthy

My husband has, they had blocked a main road and we're asking everyone (he was on his way home from work).
I've also seen them parked up next to our local park & have heard them tell children to get off play equipment.

@coolcatsandkitten

Yes I thought that too when I first heard it.
Excuse is used negatively a lot isn't it?
Like "I don't want your excuses" "You're just making excuses"

No. No they don't need an "excuse" at all.

baysidediner the swimming group replied saying it was all good, I know at least one group has been fined and closed down permently (don't know how they'll enforce that!). Though I appreciate what you're saying!!

The only people responsible are those going in the sea, the people phoning are doing the right thing - I rang to report someone in danger and it ended up being a bloody bouy that had come loose! I was so apologetic but all they kept saying was to never be put off phoning as they'd rather go out and find that than find a body. Still the case now of course but people shouldn't be in the sea right now!!

I was stopped while running, but think it was more of a welfare check. It was pouring with rain, I was in a t shirt and shorts (I near enough always am even in the snow) and had been crying.

They just asked me my name, where I live and if I was ok.