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?

All parks are NOT off limit! They never were, where did that come from? Play equipment and benches yes, but we always had that "exercise, walk" hour, right from start, no restrictions where that happened as long as you stayed within your household group and socially distanced others. My locality restricted park opening hours so not into the evening, thats all.

Can people stop splitting hairs Playgrounds are closed.
In many areas of the country Playground is called a Playpark shorted to Park.
Nobody in my RL would say they are taking the kids to the playground. No child would ask to go to a playground. Playgrounds are a very boring tarmac patch attached to schools.
Park is what people talk about. They mean they swings and other play equipment.

It's just an outrageous response both the person reporting and the police pick up. I think a lot of irrational unfairness in the suggested lockdown rules. You are a family unit. If the sand wasn't taped off then take it as permitted. Whoever reported you should have their garden taped off, if they have one. Round my way some people complaining about young teenagers (likely in multi occupancy flats ) congregating then posting boasts about raising a glass over their garden fence and getting to know their neighbours. I support the measures to limit virus transmission and have followed them I'm on the border of "vulnerable" anyway. But Ive been horrified by how many people have been eagerly waiting to take up a second career as a police person. Nimbys, curtain twitchers, jobsworths etc. Not kind, and also dumb.

Well this morning we passed the playground and there were several families playing on the equipment, having ripped up the hazard tape. No police in sight! Guess I was just unlucky. But now I can't be caught in the playground/sandpit again because I'll be fined as I've already had a warning and my details taken.

Hoping playgrounds will reopen soon. My toddlers are going mental.

SnowsInWater Wed 27-May-20 09:57:39
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

How do you work that out? I didn't read any posts up to yours NOT in support of the op!

Nothing wrong with that Op - we've been on our local beach all week, it's pretty empty, we can sit 15 metres away from each other as its just locals - and we're allowed to, I can't see any problem in what you did.

I’m sorry this happened to you and it’s def unfair. Do you have a car? We went to a local lake and there was a beach and the kids played happily for ages. Think the same applies on a sea beach.

@needmoresleep, thank you. Our parks have just reopened, and the local library will reopen next week (booked slots only, at first). Just those two things will make a huge difference to our quality of life! Thank you for your thoughts, it does make a difference.

Go to the beach, you are allowed to play in the sand there but apparently this sand is different sand 🤔

Well this morning we passed the playground and there were several families playing on the equipment, having ripped up the hazard tape. No police in sight! Guess I was just unlucky. But now I can't be caught in the playground/sandpit again because I'll be fined as I've already had a warning and my details taken.

Definitely complain to police and challenge your warning.

.... And yet police refused to come out to a loud street party at 1am on VE day when nobody was social distancing and music/ shouting was keeping nhs and key workers awake. They said they would only come out if there was 'danger to life'. And if covid19 isn't dangerous I don't know what is

What sort of person is going to see two children playing together with no other person in a public place which is not cordoned off and call the police? Honestly can't believe anyone would do that. If they are desperate to report someone it doesn't take long to find a million other people who are actually breaking rules.

I don't see how you broke the rules - as others have said a sandpit is not definitively 'playground equipment' if beaches aren't off limits why should a sandpit be? Whoever reported you needs to get a life!

You did technically break the rules as it’s a play park - whether it’s gated or not and it was really clear the park managers didn’t want the equipment used which would include the sand.

That said - there’s no judgement here and I think the person who reported you was a dick.

Also, just to let you know - sand is really germy! Anything at ground level is often more germy as that’s where coughs and sneezes land but there’s something about sand which creates ideal conditions for germs, possibly because it’s quite insulating so it gets moist with dew, turn the sun warms it and the germs multiply... I didn’t know this until I read an article about a beach in Spain which was spreading vomiting bugs. Everyone thought it was the darn buffet!!!

Well done on surviving lockdown with the smalls though!! Bloody hard work, I’ve been grateful for my crappy garden everyday!

I feel sorry for you OP, there are some petty minded miserable sods out there & unfortunately one of them saw you & your dcs. At least you are not that person, imagine how awful that would be.

Whoever reported you is a twat. I do t think you did anything wrong. If the sand wasn't roped off then it's but much different to the kids playing on the grass surely?

I don’t blame you OP as it must be so difficult trapped in a flat with 2 young children but I thought part of the reason playgrounds etc were closed is because they are a natural place for people to congregate. I know if they were open near us everyone would go and social distancing would be impossible. The person who reported you may also have kids which have been nagging them to go and don’t understand why when they see other people playing there.

As the play equipment was roped off, it could easily be assumed that because the sandpit wasn't it was OK to use. Personally speaking, I think I might be a bit wary of toddlers playing in sand at this time, but I understand that after being cooped up in a flat many children would find it upsetting to be told not to.

I don't think you are being unreasonable - I would feel just the same as you, particularly as the officer said it had been reported - not a nice feeling.

NRFT actually gutted for you. I assume the sandpit was meant to have been cordoned off.

I also know of several people who went to VE Day gatherings, with no problems arising. It seems VE Day is sacrosanct.

There is a lot of illogicality around re current hygiene concerns. When I took my dog to the forest, a toddler - at the instigation of his mother - was playing in the dirt picking up sticks to make a pretend den. He wanted to stroke my dog but his mum said (very nicely) no - you can do that when things are back to normal. So stroking a dog was seen as more hazardous than picking up sticks on a forest path which is walked upon by thousands of people and their animals.

So stroking a dog was seen as more hazardous than picking up sticks on a forest path which is walked upon by thousands of people and their animals.

In fairness, she might have thought you didn't want to have your dog stroked?

We've roped off the sandpit for the nursery and EYFS children because lots of people touching sand and it potentially going in faces/mouths, because they're children and it will at some point, seems risky. So it makes sense that public sandpits are closed. It should have been roped off so you knew though and I'm surprised someone bothered reporting it though.

Really feel for you with toddlers going crazy though, I live in a flat too, I'm really struggling but at least my kids are a bit older.

So stroking a dog was seen as more hazardous than picking up sticks on a forest path which is walked upon by thousands of people and their animals.

It probably is assuming people haven't sneezed or touched the soles of their shoes! Even if they had done it would probably have wiped off.

Rules rules fucking rooooolz!

If someone reported you they're a tosser.

However! ..... i think the policewoman saw you, decided to do the big long arm of the law act at 9am in the bloody morning, and towards the end slipped in the cowardly comment about doing it because someone reported you.

Wow 😯 well done for getting out of the house with 2 toddlers for 9am. I am in lockdown with my 17month little one and it's so hard, keep going Xx

This is ridiculous! Of course you didn't break the rules and shame on the twat that reported you! What a joke. Do not feel bad about this.