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?

That is ridiculous that some one reported you...totally ridiculous. I think police in different counties have different levels of enforcing lockdown though. I live on the South coast in a seaside town and the beaches have been packed with no social distancing and only a small number of police patrolling the beach and because there are so manyy people the police cannot do that much. YABU about this.

Sorry to hear you were treated this way. I wonder if someone really complained or the police officer felt a bit ashamed after you spoke with her. I wouldn't have accepted the "warning". There were no signs that the sandpit was not there to be used. Besides if covid is so catching from surfaces then why on earth are we all using the same supermarket trolleys? Children in Sweden and Denmark back in full time school have been found not to transmit to adults and they have not themselves suffered ill health as they have high resilience. You made the best decision for your children and others are free to make the same for theirs.

As you didn't do the core button, it's hard to see the results.

Having said that, fuck then, fuck all of them.... Next time tell them your Cummings sister! You'll be fine then!

Some people in life take absolute pleasure in fucking off people and ruining every ones lives

Don’t worry about it. This situation has allowed some frustrated school prefects to take the opportunity to dob people in for the most minor breaking of rules.
I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for you over the lockdown period with two toddlers in a flat. I’d this is the first time you’ve done anything like this, it sounds like you’ve done brilliantly! X

You must have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Normally when something happens there is no police around for love nor money.

Public sandpits and paddling pools aren’t that hygienic even in better times

If you receive a fine in the post , I believe you have the right to appeal it. Good luck

Always watch out for police informants. They can be dangerous

If the authorities didn't want people to use the sandpit, it should also be roped off/made obvious it was not to be used. YANBU.

Sorry I should have typed YANBU!😀🏖

That’s horrible OP. What awful people who reported you and a stupid police woman. At least she was human enough to realise how awful and stupid it was. Bloody outrageous that outdoor playgrounds haven’t been opened anyway .

YANBU.

You did not break any rule. Some people in this country become nasty Fascist police with this so called pandemic. They can not even think logically.

Yanbu!!

Can’t believe this is the society in which we now live. Disgraceful. And so unfair on the children.

Obviously a quiet day for the police! You'd think they might find a few drug dealers to harass instead, sadly our local park is full of them.
I would feel upset too, really horrible for someone to phone the police over something so minor, particularly given how packed the beaches have been this bank holiday and the DC fiasco.
Personally I don't think you did anything wrong.

Its hard to believe that some people are such petty minded creeps. They watch and listen to big brother Boris a man that has let this small island become the highest death rate per ratio in the world. He should have locked all ports and done lock down sooner. Now you and many other people are having to suffer. They should hang their heads in shame and so should the people that reported you.

I live in a three bedroom house with a garden. I have a similar age gap between my youngest two to yours OP.

When they were little, I would take them to toddler groups every single morning and two afternoons as well. I couldn't have coped with lock down in my house, let alone your flat. I take my hat off to you.

Mine are now teens, happy to be allowed as much screen time as makes them happy.

You maybe shouldn't have used the sand pit, but I totally get why you did.

Like many others, I'm dismayed by the speedy police response to this, in comparison to threats of violence etc. It beggars belief.

Just claim "special circumstances" which i would argue with 2 toddlers in a flat after 9 weeks is pretty rock solid.

Certainly in comparison to one parent being unwell and possibly Covid positive justifying a trip to Durham.

Both Police and whoever reported you were being unreasonable.

YWNBU.

FFS - sounds like a bored twat who had nothing better to do with their day. I can't see what you actually did wrong. Unfortunately I think that it's going to be like this as restrictions are lifted. The police must be sick of it. They don't have enough resources to catch real criminals, let alone someone sitting in a sandpit with their child.

Gosh YANBU, my hens have their own sandpit and dust bathe endlessly in this glorious weather. I am sorry OP, some people are just mean.

How is what you have done different to people visiting beaches?
Unbelievable.
You'll be able to dine out on this story for a long time though

I’m livid on your behalf OP! Some folk have nothing better to do than be utter arsewipes.

Yanbu x everyone has been sh*g and p*g on our beaches for the last week. Shame on the snoop

This is the problem with a sort of lockdown. There will always be some who take it upon themselves to be police informers. No common sense just black and white logic with blinkers on. Goody little collaborators need to wind their neck in and look to themselves, not manage other peoples lives.

It was a childcare emergency. You were just doing what any caring person would. If it’s ok for DC it’s ok for you!
I’m pretty hardline about the lockdown (I know too much to be anything but) and I do feel worried when I see people on gym equipment in the park but I don’t think I’d be worried about the sand. Then again, I guess if everyone did it then it would be an infection control issue - so I guess that’s the point. but TBH I don’t see how the police can even begin to police this when the PMs senior advisor doesn’t WTF he wants with no consequences. In other words I’m on the fence but totally no judgement here.
So hard to have little ones and no outdoor space. You’ve done amazingly to make it this far and not be rocking in a corner!