Just got reported to police for breaching lockdown. WIBU?!

[saylor]

For context: I have 2 toddler DC (tiny age gap!), we live in a flat and we have thus far abided by all lockdown rules, and it's been fucking hard!

This morning, at 9am (!!!!), I took DC to the park across the road and let them play in a sandpit which forms part of an un-gated playground. All the play equipment is roped off with police and hazard tape and we didn't go on the equipment, just played in the sand with buckets and spades. First time in 9 weeks and no one else was there.

After literally only being there for 5 minutes a police van pulls up and tells me I'm breaching lockdown rules, took my details, and gave me a warning. She stopped short of fining me. I apologised and started packing up the buckets and spades and older toddler had an absolute meltdown that we had to leave. The police woman took pity on me and said she was sorry she had to move us on but because someone reported me, it was her job.

So someone saw a mother and her two young children playing in the sand and decided to call the police at 9am and tell me off. This is after a bank holiday weekend of huge groups of people socialising all over the park and no one told off.

I'm livid. AIBU? Or WIBU to take my DC to the sandpit after 9 weeks of lockdown hell?

What rule did you break?
I’m not one of the “sod it now DC has broken the rules I can” brigade but I honestly don’t see how what you did was against guidelines

Surely the sand is the park?

That does sound extreme! You were unlucky. Where I live loads of people are out and about.

Therefore you played in the park. Take the warning.

All the other detail is irrelevant

How were you breaching lockdown?

It wasn't roped off so nothing preventing you from playing there. And children are allowed out

I don't think you are being unreasonable. You should of said you needed to use the sandpit to test you eyesight. Then you would of been supported and nothing ever happen to you.

There are some arseholes around. Just try and forget about it.

play in a sandpit which forms part of an un-gated playground. All the play equipment is roped off with police and hazard tape and we didn't go on the equipment, just played in the sand

Technically you did break the rules as all parks are still off limit but FFS, its a sandpit! I cannot see how you are transmitting anything through the sand!

I’d have just told them you were testing your eyesight. I don’t see how they can argue with that

Agree it’s OTT. But you were in theory using the playground.

Sand doesn’t naturally occur in parks.

Half of MN would report you judging by some of the posts here. I feel desperately sorry for people with small kids at the moment, it must be so tough.

I cannot see how you are transmitting anything through the sand!

The same way you transmit anything through touch. It's the same reason the swings etc are off limits.

I mean I wouldn't report it or anything, that's just nuts.

It's ridiculous in my opinion. You can play socially distanced sports with your household. Why not allow one household per piece of play equipment at a time? The sun should kill off any virus and you can use hand sanitiser afterwards anyway.

Sad that someone felt the need to ring the police and that the police turned up so quickly.

Sad that my neighbour was mugged and the police took several days to take a statement.

Sad that for some they can break rules and no issue and for others not. Sad that a child had to stop playing because a curtain twitcher couldn't just let it go.

Whoever reported you is a complete arse. Especially if you are in England.

Yeah you kind of were - the reason it was empty is because everyone else knows not to use it because these things have been shut. Its an ungated playground and playgrounds are shut. Parks however have been reopened

And can we stop with the somehow DC makes this all ok - it doesnt. It makes him a twat and he was wrong but it doesnt make it ok for everyone else to think that the rules dont apply and they can somehow be the exception

I see both sides.
They may have thought you were going to let them into the playground and that's why they called the police. Would recommend a shell pool and fill it with sand, still lots of fun and you don't have to stress about having the police called on you.

Obviously the sandpit is play equipment so you shouldn't have used it. I think its mad that you live in an area where police have nothing better to do, we have some outdoor exercise equipment on our estate and I know a woman who lives opposite it always reports people for using it. I think people should be able to use their own common sense if you've thought about the risk of transmission through sand and think it's a risk worth taking then I think that is reasonable

"Sorry officer, I was checking whether my DC could actually play with sand before I made the journey to the coast to let them play on the beach"

Tou did break the rules. The sand pit would be considered part of the 'equipment'. Most likely the person is reporting you is another mum in the same situation who has said no to her own kids.

It's tough times, and I'm glad the police officer didn't fine you, but yes, you were in the wrong.

Beaches are open, mine have been building sandcastles all week. I would have said that I was following my instincts and thus it's allowed.

I wouldn’t have reported you but yes you were technically breaching the rules. If everyone did it then there would be a problem wouldn’t there? You can take a ball and play on the grass but you know you shouldn’t have been using the sandpit, taped off or not.

Would recommend a shell pool and fill it with sand, still lots of fun and you don't have to stress about having the police called on you

Not really going to work in a flat, is it?

YANBU

The same way you transmit anything through touch. It's the same reason the swings etc are off limits.

If the virus can be transmitted through sand, why people in England now allowed to go to the beach for a picnic? This just shows how bonkers some of the rules are.