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?

I would not have thought you were breaking the rules. It's not a high touch area like play equipment with handrails. What a mean spirited busy body. A corden should be put around it if it is not to be used. You can sit in the park now. I think the person reporting and the police officer were wrong. A bench would be more dodgy.

I wouldn't have reported you and I sympathise and understand your reasoning for doing what you did. But on the flip side I would be very frustrated if my young children were to see you and yours playing on the sand pit because then mine would be wanting to do the same and I would have a hard time explaining to them why they couldn't.

Well you broke the rules. Everyone else would like to be doing the same but we aren’t. That’s why it was empty

So you can go to a beach and build sandcastles but you can't use a sandpit elsewhere?

How does that make sense? If it's not meant to be used surely the local council should have taken action to prevent access?

People were on fucking lilos in the local ponds here, congregating in groups of 20+, having BBQs on the green space. According to reports I've read, apparently the local police turned up, bought an ice cream from the ice cream van (!) had a laugh and a joke with the picnic-ers and took no action whatsoever.

I'm outraged on your behalf OP.

YANBU and you really should have mentioned to the police officer that you were doing the best for your family's mental health. I wouldn't have mentioned beaches - or maybe something like "it's a pity we couldn't go to the beach".

It was VU of whoever reported you too, but as we have found out the country has turned into a nation of reporters, snitchers, collaborators whatever. The whole lockdown scenario is much harder on people without a garden. (I did see a suggestion, not sure if it was on MN or elsewhere, that one of the reasons people aren't allowed to visit other people and sit in the garden - even with social distancing - is that it's not fair on people without gardens but, hey ho)

It's tough times, and I'm glad the police officer didn't fine you, but yes, you were in the wrong.

^ This.

OP really feel for you with two toddlers in a flat, I would absolutely had said something along the lines that I was following my instincts as a parent but appreciate not everyone is in a position to take a fine if it’s dealt out.

From the new evidence about transmission it’s like that some park areas will hopefully be open in the next month.

By the way. You were not obliged to give the police your details, I would have refused.

Bless you some people need to mind their own business x Feel sorry for you x

Absolutely ridiculous! I can’t believe someone could be so nasty.

There are some real fun-sucking, miserable twats out there and you know what they say - misery likes company (and this pandemic has been the perfect excuse for these types of people to purge all their anger at life onto others).

I’m afraid I’d have had a few smart words for the policewoman too - why wasn’t the sandpit cordoned off or made clear it was out of bounds? What an absolute waste of police time.

There is a fairly large park directly at the back of my house there are notices all over the park that not he of the facilities are open to the public is playground equipment all weather football.pitch etc etc ,is it something like this? Nobody has taken a blind but of notice mind you 🙄

Never understood how Boris said you can sit on a bench but not sit on a swing.
Sorry about the busy body OP it must be really hard living with no garden.

The same way you transmit anything through touch. It's the same reason the swings etc are off limits. - the risk of transmission by touch is minute! Some scientists have found 'particles' on surface days after someone (with Covid) has sneezed/coughed on it (not just touched it!) but it is debatable whether that particle can infect another human.

Sand is not going to a transmittable surface. Especially outside, especially in the sunshine we've had.

I don't think anyone 'reported' you, I think the Police office saw you and moved you on for their own reasons. Boredom, probably.

i'd go back tomorrow with your kids. And yes, use your own discretion, as did DC 'being a good parent', as said Boris.

Think that’s really unfair and Ott :(
It must be really hard work for you op some people are pathetic.

Ridiculous - face it as a woman with woman's small kids you were an easy target. Next time be a group of blokes swigging beer together or teens on bikes. You will be left alone then. Just be glad you aren’t the fuck weasel who reported you - what a joyless arse. Hi and enjoy somewhere else today xx

Never understood how Boris said you can sit on a bench but not sit on a swing.

Sorry about the busy body OP it must be really hard living with no garden.

Yanbu I don’t think it’s any different to sitting on a beach and no one else was there. I think the police were ott! When I reported an uninsured driver doing a hit and run on my car it took them a month to get back to me and they never did anything either. It’s sad people are that vindictive to report toddlers and a mum in times like this.

Who reports something like that?!

Here’s a cut and paste from the actual government guidelines:

Outdoor gyms, playgrounds and outdoor swimming pools will remain closed due to the higher risk of close contact and touching surfaces

They seem to use ‘playground’ to refer to the equipment. So the odd piece of play equipment in a park would be included.

A sandpit is not playground equipment by their definition and had it been located in a park instead of playground would have been within rules to use.

I suppose it hinges on where the unfenced playground begins and ends and what is included under its umbrella.

Bloody petty though.

The only people who are getting reported for such minor breaches in my area are those who have publicly criticised others for breaking the lock down on social media (or those who look extremely similar to those who have). There are a number of people who have used the lock down as an excuse to moan about every single teenager and youngish adult that they see in public, whilst not listening to some of the rules themselves, and are then wondering why they are being reported.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-phased-return-of-outdoor-sport-and-recreation#if-you-have-children-with-you

I really feel for you OP. I think it's part of the play park so off limits.

However reporting you is mean. It must be so hard without a garden. I would be tempted to buy a poundland paddling pool, half a bag of playsand and carry it over in a bag 4 life. But sand is heavy.

It's a shit time and everyone is piling in to make people feel worse

Someone very close to me couldn't get a single police officer out to her when her (known to police as violent) abusive ex was at her door threatening her and her baby so hearing stories like this really pisses me off. How stupid to waste resources sending an officer out to a mum and two kids playing in a sand pit. You should have given your name as Dominic Cummings OP, then you would have been left alone.

Locally to me, people did report people using a sandpit at the park. But actually it was still closed by the council as they haven't yet done the clean up of the sandpit after the winter, and it had been covered in dirty water. So not somewhere suitable for children to play. And if yours hasn't been checked, there could be broken glass, needles and so on in there

The sun should kill off any virus

Welcome to the thread, Mr President.

I don’t think you’ve broken the rules. We can now drive to the beach/park and sunbathe so why can’t you let your children play in some sand that’s not cordoned off.