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?

My heart goes out to you, it must be incredibly difficult coping in your circumstances. Now you've established that you can't use the sandpit, how about a teddy bear picnic in the park, or what about making some playdough (salt, flour and oil, for the base, then add food colouring), find a plastic sheet or even cut up bin bags and take them into a park, and let them get mucky.

I don't see how that is breaking any rules. How is playing in the sand different from playing in the grass? I would have been furious. Police should have told the person who reported you that your were not breaking any rules.

Instead of ranting to Mumsnet (or in addition to) please lodge a complaint with your local police commander and copy it to your local councillor/s and MP.

Whoever reported you was a twat. Sorry. People should really be careful about what kind of society they wish for. I hope your babies were not too traumatised

The sandpit is part of the playground so no I suppose you shouldn't have been using it. But I definitely wouldn't have called the police on you for it. And I don't think it's unreasonable to be upset about being cautioned by the police for letting your toddlers play. You technically did break the rules but this whole situation is so messed up...I have a baby nearly a toddler myself and I think I can imagine how you must've felt.

Omg why are people being so intolerant and horrible to each other in lockdown. Our grandparents pulled together to fight a war and what do we do in a national crisis? Turn on each other and call the police for any perceived infraction no matter how minor. Not to mention the waste of police time!

Should have said you were using your instinct or testing your eyesight It must be really hard in a flat at this time but well done for sticking to the rules pity other people don't

You should have said you wanted to move on from this and ignored them

OP you weren't BU at all. So sorry you were reported and your DC were upset.

Sure, report a mass gathering, report antisocial behaviour, report risky actions. A couple of siblings playing in a sandpit? Well done.

Rubbish! We can play on the sand on the beach, why not in a park?

You weren’t in breach at all. The person who reported you is a sad sad person. The police officer did not have to speak to you because it was reported. They can also use their judgment.

Two toddler siblings having limited fun with no other children present is hardly a crime. Your poor children.

I’d be of a mind to ring the station and ask for clarification on which regulation you breached. What an absolute waste of valuable resources. I’d say as much on nextdoor.com so your lovely neighbour realises what a dick they are!

But what about the sand on all the beaches that were filled on the last two weekends!!!!
You did nothing wrong in playing in the sand .... but then you aren’t really important enough to use your own judgement or didn’t you know that😟!

Yanbu. Awful. I am so depressed by so many posts on mumsnet - the lack of empathy, and the ignorance of the dangers posed by lockdown itself for many of us. I'm in a small flat with my autistic son. All his and our supports vanished. No playgroup, no respite even for an hour. No park - only the street in which to 'exercise'. After weeks of this, he absconded from the flat (he's 6, and this has never happened before) and ended up being found by police after running across a busy road. He was nearly killed. But yeah, I'm just complaining because I'm 'bored' of lockdown. Oh, and of course, my son isn't the right kind of 'vulnerable'.

I am in lock down. Why call it down? It is more lock up than down. I wonder how many mums of children, large and small have taught their children how and who to contact in an emergency? Sometimes, after the first signs of the virus, it takes very little time before you are incapacitated, anything from a couple of hours to a couple of days. It would be wise to locate licensed child minders in your area who are prepared to come and look after your child at a moment's notice, In the absence of a licensed child minder, the alternative is relatives, mostly grandparents, otherwise you would be acting unlawfully by leaving your child in the care of a stranger who is not licensed. I am not sure how many parents realise how quickly they can be overcome. Most seem to think they will have a gradual decline.

The person who reported you could have been someone who had promised their kids a play in the sand and could not because you were there and there is social distancing. I hope you wear masks when you go out. Whatever people say against them, respiratory diseases can only be spread on the breath, although of course you also have to keep a wipe with bleach with you to wipe knobs and handles others have touched. (a bleached soaked panty liner in a plastic bag is ideal.

I'm in the same situation as you Op (2 toddlers, inner city flat, no garden)-

If I'd have seen that a sandpit was free at a park at 9am I'd have let my 2 play there, no question, absolutely everywhere is still cordoned off, it's been 2 months since we've had a good play outside.

People go to the beaches to walk their dogs....but we can't let our children use a sandpit for 10 minutes without a police callout??

YANBU- I'd have felt the same as you.

And here I am at my local playing field watching 10 teenage boys playing football without social distancing; 4 teenagers playing touch rugby (!) I kid you not. Plus mums and young kids picknicking - again not social distancing. Ice cream van turns up and kids being sent out by parents to get ices .... no social distancing at all whilst in queue along street.... yet you get reported by someone? Meanwhile DomCum can do what he pleases. Love this world.

But they live in a flat so no garden presumably to put a makeshift sandpit!

YANBU....... but I’m a nursery practitioner and we have been told that the children are not allowed to play with sand or water because it’s a contactable source. During this time there has been so much confusion about what we can and can’t do, how would anyone know about “sand” unless you work in a setting.
As for someone grassing you up! People need to learn to mind their own business. U have 2 toddlers 24/7 it’s wrong for anyone to judge.

Playgrounds are still very much out of bounds. It has been really hard going past them with my 18 month old, while other people are in there with their small children having chosen to ignore the signs and hop over the locked gate. He wants to go in too and play with the other children, which is heartbreaking to say no to. But I, and most others still do.

I have to say you would really have annoyed me OP, but I couldn't have been arsed to have reported you.

@TomNook

Is your name Willy Wanker.

While it's ridiculous OP was reported surely people can see the difference between large stretches of beach and a small enclosed sandpit which could potentially have dc in very close quarters, because if one family is allowed how can you stop any others. If one family uses it it also becomes very hard for other families to say no to their dc.

@skeptile that sounds rough. from an internet stranger probably won’t help much, but that is all I can offer.

I am lucky, both DC are University age, so can deal with lockdown as adults....still hard enough.

Those poor inquisitive young children, missing the stimulation and social inter action they need. x10 if they are not neurotypical.

Not forgetting their mums either.

I hope today is a good day.

@PrincessBuggerPants Do you have a Garden/access to an outdoor space for your 18 month old to play?

You should have said you needed to use the sandpit to test your eyesight.

But really, whoever reported you should be volunteering their time to a good cause (and yes, I am sure they're not a key worker or a volunteer) as they obviously have nothing better to do. Jeez. Toddler in a sandpit, call the police ...

There was no one else there just you and your children! Has Covid 19 affected our common humanity and our common sense? We might as well be living in East Berlin before the wall came down.

Er, you are allowed to go to the park? I think so