Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
cocklepicker · 28/04/2020 23:01

@MistyIsland leave your paranoia at the door maybe?

AppleKatie · 28/04/2020 23:07

am wearing my id lanyard in the car.

Side note but please don’t do this- heaven forbid you had an accident that lanyard or more specifically the badge on the end of it could really hurt you.

GoatyGoatyMingeMinge · 29/04/2020 00:35

Thanks for the correction, @cocklepicker and apologies to those I've misinformed. Do you have any further information from the legislation? I've been unable to find the authority.

MrsAvocet · 29/04/2020 01:04

@AppleKatie I was about to say the same thing as I have personal experience. I wont go into details as they were indeed gory. Such injuries may be rare but they can be extremely nasty and are avoidable. It never crossed my mind that wearing my ID badge in the car was dangerous until I was seriously injured in a crash a few years ago. When I was better I looked it up and discovered that its a recognised risk and people have even been killed this way. I never wear anything round my neck in the car now. My ID badge goes into the centre console as soon as I get in the car now and I would advise anyone to do the same.
Sorry, I know its going off the topic but I wouldn't wish my injuries on anyone.

satinlite · 29/04/2020 01:34

No, I go for a walk with my toddler every morning and I see police around all the time, but they've never spoken to me. I'm often standing still while supervising DS, but they've never seemed bothered about that. Some of the parks we go to aren't being strictly monitored though - I've seen sunbathers and groups of men drinking and police have passed and not stopped them. I'm in central London. I don't drive, but I've never seen cars being stopped anywhere around here.

I've been hearing some multi-household parties going on locally (can hear them but not quite sure where they are) and they don't seem to be stopped by anyone.

UnderTheIroningBoard · 29/04/2020 01:40

Not me but a colleague or two have been stopped and asked where they were going (on way to work)

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 29/04/2020 03:42

Largest gathering I've seen recently was about 60+ police officers loitering around outside City of London police station on a sunny weekend. Very socially undistanced.
Other than them, streets were deserted.

Picassoh · 29/04/2020 04:02

Of course people are taking up walking and running. It’s the only way to stretch your legs or get vitamin D for many people who are now stuck inside apart from that bit exercise.

FirstNameSurname · 29/04/2020 08:34

I have for going to sort our pony out. I was in scruffy clothes that stink on horses, straw in it etc with DD1 beside me in full riding gear, hat, jodhpurs with horses on etc. Police told us its not the first time they had been told that and could I prove it. I offered to show them to the yard or the boot of the car full of horsey items, texts from other owners agreeing a rota to limit the amount of trips we all needed to make etc. They weren't happy and asked us to turn around until I found an email for pony insurance showing details of the pony and where she is kept, less than a mile from where we were stopped.

MistyIsland · 29/04/2020 08:50

@cocklepicker - what paranoia??

The fact that some twat second home owners basically ignored guidelines not to have a party! And had over 100 people at their house! All of who traipsed around the village. Yes that very fair on the local residents who have abiding by the rules.

Or that fact the police followed me for 15 miles? They had plenty of opportunities to stop me? (all caught on dashcam)???

IloveConkers · 29/04/2020 17:27

Every time I go on the motorway. The police stop every single car. You have to show them your shopping and receipt to prove where you have been or have appropriate paperwork for docs appt or work business otherwise expect a big fine. I am in Spain.

bitteroulbag · 29/04/2020 17:48

Three times - but I live in NE Paris, & the flics are everywhere...

Noextremes2017 · 29/04/2020 17:56

No.

But I did pass a Police motorcyclist parked up with a hand held speed gun the other day.

You'd think they might have more important things to do - but apparently not.

Friedmushroom · 29/04/2020 18:13

My OH is a PO - they are very much stopping people and checking. They are also going out a lot in plain clothes too - so if you aren’t seeing them it doesn’t mean they’re not there! They still have a lot of other business to attend to so can’t solely focus on people’s reasons to be out. The PO’s you’re seeing that aren’t stopping people are probably tasked with other jobs.

Piemash · 29/04/2020 18:17

I went for a walk at 6am the other day because it was already light and warm, DS had already been up for an hour and I find it quieter and more pleasant. I got stopped, well, he pulled over and asked me what I was doing out so early, and how irresponsible it was to be roaming about at all hours with a pram. He was really rude as well, and when I said just out for a walk, he just tutted and drove off Confused

CambsAlways · 29/04/2020 18:24

Nope well I wouldn’t I’m at home 24/7 isolating not allowed out to walk so been holed up so to speak for weeks, my husband on the other hand is key worker and never been stopped

Mummytoonlychild · 29/04/2020 18:28

I have a few times but it stopped after a week as it's a regular patrol route and they got use to me going to work at 1:30am

TopBitchoftheWitches · 29/04/2020 18:33

@applekatie I always wear my lanyard in the car, it has a quick release catch and the id cards are plastic.

Bitsnbobs78 · 29/04/2020 18:35

My son (15) has been stopped everytime he has gone out for daily exercise. He had to show a policeman his phone yesterday to show he was on a run on strava.

AppleKatie · 29/04/2020 18:37

@TopBitchoftheWitches the risk isn’t that it will choke you it is that the plastic will become imbedded in you when the airbag deploys.

MrsAvocet · 29/04/2020 18:37

it has a quick release catch and the id cards are plastic
Neither of which will necessarily stop it being impaled in your chest/ upper abdomen if your airbag goes off in a collision. And that isn't much fun, believe me.

TopBitchoftheWitches · 29/04/2020 18:47

@MrsAvocet @AppleKatie

I have never given it a thought, I won't wear it again in the car, thank you both. Flowers

I may even make my employer aware of this as well.

Mummadeeze · 29/04/2020 18:53

Haven’t seen a policeman or police car since this all started and I live in a busy area in London that has a fair amount of crime usually.

DagenhamRoundhouse · 29/04/2020 18:58

We were stopped in Chipping Norton marketplace by a policeman who was one of several stopping cars to ask what they were about. Luckily, we'd been to get bread and paracetamol for a disabled friend at the nearby chemist so had a good reason. He was perfectly polite but I felt a little intimidated. We are not going out without a reason in this climate, walks for exercise and the car for supermarket visits. Wish to God it would all stop.

AppleKatie · 29/04/2020 19:00

I found this out through a colleague who’s married to a firefighter- they sent round an all staff email with some pretty gory details on.