To report neighbours to 101

[Gwillow]

Since the lockdown my next door but one neighbours have had visitors to sit in the garden. They’re currently entertaining yet more people for lunch. I haven’t seen my parents or friends for over two months despite living nearby, I work in a hospital and am seeing first hand the results of this pandemic and putting myself at risk. We and so many others are making sacrifices every day and I’m furious that they’re acting as though everything is normal. My DP thinks we should stay out of it but I’ve had enough and I want to report them. I’m not sure that anything would be done however. AIBU?

Instead we don't engage with them, no eye contact no hellos as we walk past, it's very obvious tmhat we're disappointed with them

So they will wonder why they never realised you were such rude idiots before now? That worked well!

This is not soviet Russia, or Nazi German
Actually its been looking like those for weeks now. People are falling over themselves to point the finger and name and shame without a fecking clue why people are doing things and frequently without actually knowing the actual facts of the rules themselves, which despite making them look incredibly stupid in thier self importance, makes it even more sinister.

And also, the police have more important things to do than running around to address the calls of over zealous neighbours.

Just leave it OP.

And I know plenty of NHS staff breaking the rules. In fact.. out of all the NHS staff I know I don't think a single one hasn't.

Mind your own sodding business bloody busy body Karen

I despair at the lack of critical thinking and understanding of risk displayed on here and by many of my friends

I completely agree with this @unchienandalusia and this is actually the crux of the real problem we now have.

OP has you husband been to see them???

People are doing whatever they want now unfortunately and I don't think the police care any more.

Seeing family/friends only benefits the individuals, getting people back to work benefits the economy and the common good. I’m really really sick of this wilful obtuseness.
So its ok to be crammed in a train with hundreds of people a day, or work in a supermarket full of staff and customers because its for 'the economy' but its not ok to be 2m away from someone in a garden because you will infect thousands?
Where is the sense in that?

I get it OP, I took my son out for a walk in the week, first time he's been out since lockdown started but here, you'll find many pps telling you to wind your neck in and mind your own, even if the neighbours' visitors have travelled from afar - and they'll be on the Cummings thread tearing him from limb to limb!

Is there an.actual reason you haven't been out for a walk in weeks?

People are doing whatever they want now unfortunately and I don't think the police care any more.

What do you expect when Dominic Cummings does it and gets away with it?

They don't care about your health. The rules are there so they can pay lip-service to the lockdown while allowing people to still go to work. Of course being crammed onto a train with hundreds of others is more dangerous than a socially distanced picnic with three people, but one benefits the economy so it's acceptable.

If picnics in the park made the government money they'd be allowed too.

Venus, has your son been unwell, or have you? We've been allowed out for exercise for quite a long time. Anyway, whatever your reason, I'm glad you took him out for a walk, a bit of fresh air and exercise will do both of you good.

@Willow2017 and @Lynda07 too many folk about giving eyes and pavement dancing - so, we decided our garden was adequate for daily exercise (he has climbing equipment and can run a fair stretch along it) - thought I'd leave the walking for those without gardens/in more desperate need to go out.
He loves our garden tbf

We're planning on a walk later on! Seems quieter since ease of lockdown rules - odd isn't it lol

In the last 2 months, there would always have been a time of morning/evening to have a quick walk and remain 2 metres away from anyone you pass.

YABU - only because there is nothing you can really do - so effectively YANBU.

We can only, as individual households, do our best to protect our own households; if other people want to take risks, they will.

I think that given the government can ignore the lock down it is now open season and we can all do our own risk assessments and decide what to do/not do - having someone to the garden is not a huge step away from meeting someone in the park so I really think you should mind your own business. Perhaps think about seeing your family and friends and work out what measures you will take to ensure you stay 2m apart etc rather than worrying about your neighbour.

I understand Venus. It's just not fair though, there is nothing wrong with a mother and child going for a walk. I despair sometimes.

I think the official lockdown rules now are ‘follow your instincts’ so it doesn’t matter.

We have the same problem. HMO nextdoor to us. House parties every weekend. I'll be honest, I haven't contact the police before because I worried about wasting the police forces time but I'm cross this weekend that I haven't seen my family for 2 months and they're having parties every weekend.

I reported it online to my local police force. That way, if they have the resources at this point, they can investigate and prioritise my complaint as they see fit.

OP - for any other crime / antisocial behaviour/ ‘my neighbour gave me a funny look’ brigade, the ‘call 101’ brigade would be out. But for coronavirus law breaking, it’s live and let live / die

So its ok to be crammed in a train with hundreds of people a day, or work in a supermarket full of staff and customers because its for 'the economy' but its not ok to be 2m away from someone in a garden because you will infect thousands?
Where is the sense in that?

I think the point is we can only afford a finite amount of interactions and still keep R below 1.

So if supermarkets and rammed tubes create X number of interactions, we might still be able to keep it below 1. But if you add in the additional social interactions, then you may tip the balance.

I personally think the no family in garden rule is silly but I do understand the rationale.

@RoosterPie - that's a very important point you make yes

I understand the rational behind the rule also but it needs to be balanced with the research that says that most people are infected inside (like in a car with family members and for longer periods of time) and not outside, sitting in the garden 2 metres apart.

RoosterPie is spot on. R is an average and depends on what everyone is doing. We need to prioritise the interactions that benefit the country as a whole (kids being able to go to school, people not losing their jobs, being able to open up normal health services) as the social harms of not being able to do so are very real and very bad. I am really surprised to hear people saying 'they might as well do this as well because xyz is happening " - or it is all about individual risk assessment (it really isn't!)