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?

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What's sickening about this is a desperate mum of two young kids, just wanting to give them space and some quality time was reprimanded for taking them to a sandpit in her local park. Whereas Dominic Cummings drove hundreds of miles across the country and visited a beauty spot with his family during the lockdown that he wrote the rules for - and escaped any kind of reprimand. It's a fucking circus. And as usual, it's the ordinary people who suffer the most whilst the rich and powerful get to do whatever the fuck they like.

Parks are still closed in Middlesbrough, for the most part.

I think it's awful you were reported OP, whether you were technically in the wrong or not. One of the worst parts of this whole pandemic for me has been the realisation that no matter how well you get on with your neighbours, some are just waiting for the opportunity to hoist their judgy pants right up and show how much better than you they are.

Playgrounds are separate to parks. Shouldn’t be in a sandpit. However after Cummings antics I wouldn’t have taken any crap. Avoid sandpits in parks as there’re full of all sorts .

YANBU op..am really sorry. My neighbours on the other hand are..she is a hca on maternity ward and he works with people with learning disabilities..in the last 2 weeks they have had 2 bbqs with a fair few people and kids.

Contact your MP.

Technically as the sand is part of the park you were breaking the rules but the person who reported you is a bit sad as you weren't going to be putting them at any risk unless they intended to play in the sAnd later

The last few months have really shown up that a sizable minority of the population have more in common with Vogons than humans (bureaucratic, officious, ill-temoered and the 3rd worst poetry in the galaxy). Whoever reported it is a complete twat.

I really hope playgrounds reopen in the near future. It's depressing seeing them taped up and off-limits, meanwhile children are deprived of their social networks, professional education and age appropriate play. While I've walked my DCs past play equipment, mine are long past the toddler phase and have access to private outdoors play space. Playing in the sand is low risk and no worse than a child sitting on and touching grass or benches.

We really need to be getting back to our old normal.

Some nosy curtain twitcher jumping with glee they called the cops on you. Sad and pathetic.

I don’t think you were unreasonable.
It must have been bloody hard to keep your children at home for so long in a flat. Although there will be some risk of passing on the virus I imagine the risk of anything being passed through an outside sandpit is fairly low!

Out of all the things the police could be policing it’s a pity there time was used for such a trivial matter.

@kahronah - they live in a flat. Don't be so condescending.

you were rule breaking you were lucky not to get fined

@BogRollBOGOF I totally agree with you comment about children. They’ve really not been considered at all in this lockdown. I feel for all the children who have been stuck in small enclosed space, with no access to extended family or friends, particularly young children who most need play and are not at the stage of using technology to keep in touch socially.

I mean old men, who would be higher risk, can go play golf or tennis but children, who are apparently low risk, can’t play in playgrounds. We’re being told that children are so low risk they can be sent back to school safely next week but they can’t use outside play spaces.

YANBU

I don’t understand why the governments covid rules didn't allow people who live in flats with children more leeway, they deserve some green space to play.

I’m starting to think that all the curtain twitchers and people who report are actually enjoying this. What will they do when this is over? Start a vigilante campaign?

@GranGran26

YANBU

I don’t understand why the governments covid rules didn't allow people who live in flats with children more leeway, they deserve some green space to play.

Totally agree. That’s why I hardly go to the park as I have a garden so I keep the park space for those who need it more than me.

I have a toddler and it’s mildly annoying when I see people using playground equipment because my son then wants to and doesn’t understand why he can’t. It’s a bit of a shitty thing to do I think. So YABU for using the sandpit.

But people reporting people for rule breaks are just fucking pathetic saddos who need to get a life. And for that YANBU.

I’m starting to think that all the curtain twitchers and people who report are actually enjoying this

They LOVE it!!!! It’s so sad.

you were lucky not to get fined

No. Police is supposed to only use fines as the last resort. OP should have just been asked to "go home".

I don’t understand why the governments covid rules didn't allow people who live in flats with children more leeway, they deserve some green space to play.

I doubt anyone in the government realises that there are such people.

If have thought the sandpit was included in the forbidden zone because it would be difficult for little ones to remain 2m apart if it were to be open for all. But you going in when no one else was arojnd couldn’t have presented a risk to anyone.....

Some people just thrive on reporting people for any little thing.
There are people who are bored out of their brains and spend the whole time looking out of their windows, clocking who has a shopping delivery and when, who has a visitor knocking on their door etc.

Do the police not tell you where the report comes from?

This is just ridiculous. I can't see that you broke any of the stupid rules at all.

Unfortunately you were probably noticed by a dementor. They have to suck the fun out of everything. You can see from some of the more ludicrous responses on your thread that some people think we should all have been sitting in darkened rooms with just bread and water. Ignore them. They are talking crap.

Some people just have way too much time on their hands now, and that might include some police.

I have a neighbour who hasn’t taken any notice of lockdown. She had clients visiting her house throughout the day and has had several family bbqs and kids pool parties . I haven’t reported. I was tempted after she came out to clap for carers but after Cummings I can’t be bothered.