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?

BTW op my nearest park hasn't had the equipment taped off so we use the equipment. There's only ever us there at the best of times, regardless of corona. So we calculated there's little risk. I don't think there's anything in the new 'rules' that say playgrounds are out of bounds?

@vanillandhoney says who?

Aha just read rules. 🙈😂. Still me going on a rarely used playground is hardly as risky as going to a packed beach and fingerings everything on the way... Parking meters, benches, railings etc.

Here it is

I see kids playing in the sandpit in my local park all the time now. Except it’s not a sandpit - it’s the sandy track where horses are exercised. Horse poo castles anyone?

Not read the full thread, but OP, I really feel for you.

Its getting bloody hard.

OP you were not being unreasonable. When will the needs and rights of children be given sufficient consideration in this pandemic? The lack of consideration to children’s wellbeing is verging on institutional neglect imho. Congratulate yourself, op, for looking out for and exercising your child. The person who reported you is clearly a small minded person with nothing better to think about than curtain twitching.

Should have said your husband was called Dominic.

Whoever reported you is a complete bellend.

Some people are absolute sad cunts

Whoever reported you is a complete bellend.

^^this

Nothing else to say

@MoreOfADogPerson why not? we had the paddling pool and sandpit set up in the kitchen for ds. just had to move out the table and chairs to make space. So it can work in a flat if you got a big enough kitchen.
ds had loads of fun.

I actually can't believe it. I have just come back from a (guideline compliant) walk and saw two officers pull up and move a lone woman and her DCs off the swings. I know she was breaching lockdown but this is the first time I have seen a police officer in my town for the 7 years I have lived here. Meanwhile people have had tools stolen from vans, houses have been burgled, people have been harassed and the police couldn't give a shit.

YANBU. In my area parks and play areas are completely open, parks have never been closed. I was in my local park on Sunday, it was so lovely to see little kids on the swings again. So glad the council in my area is not run by total nob-heads. They are opening the schools as well, good for them.

As for the people who reported OP and that lady, what sad little lives they must lead.

I think I would probably have been a bit pissed off if I'd seen you, don't know if I would have gone as far as to report you though.

Took the DC for a walk on Sunday which went through the park. Turns out that three of 6 year old DD's friends and their mums were having a picnic(!) and all playing together. It broke my heart to have to tell her she wasn't allowed to join in and pull a sobbing child who is desperately missing her friends away.

I can quite imagine another mum having to explain to her child that just because YOU were in the sandpit it didn't mean they could go and play too.

I think the reason why sandpits etc aren’t ‘ok’ is because they’ll be points in parks where lots of people are likely to head, thus making social distancing harder.

I think that was the reason for it too.
In the early days of lockdown someone complained on our local FB page, about people using the play park. She lived opposite and was having to explain to her toddlers that it was closed while other kids were in it. While they were pointing out - look mum the park is open.

I'd be fairly certain that it's been another mum who's complained.
Yes lockdown is blinking hard on tots get them out on scooters and play elsewhere other than the sandpit.
Sorry OP, while I sympathise I do think you were unreasonable.

Your probably broke the rules but I think you were incredibly unlucky to be reported for it. Sorry to hear and hope you’re ok. X

Don't know whether sandpits are 'against the rules' or not, but whoever reported you really is a sad little fuck.

Well done for keeping your dignity with the police.

If the rest of the equipment had been marked clearly as a no go area with tape but the sandpit wasn’t, I would have assumed that the sandpit was ok....

I would asked the Police about that. Message, once again, is unclear

I think it's sad it came down to reporting a mum playing with kids. But if the playground was just across the road, they may be annoyed by children's voice early in the morning. Or their children wanted to go and play but parents didn't want to break a rule so reported it. Or just nasty busybody who can't tolerate anyone having fun.

God the inconsistencies around what you can and can’t do now are ludicrous if it wasn’t taped off like the other parts of the park then yes I would’ve agreed also you could use it

Some right sad bastards out there if they reported you for that

I’m so sorry you and your little ones had this unpleasant and unnecessary experience. You’ve done so well to observe the rules and deserve a pat on the back not a warning from the police.

In WWII, there were people in occupied territory reporting their neighbours who were trying to protect others who were hiding from the Nazis. I’m sure some of our modern day self appointed spies would be doing the same thing. Whoever reported you should be deeply ashamed.

What a sad world we live in at present where two young children playing in a sandpit brings about so much venom.

I hope you are ok OP and find something else fun to do with them.