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?

You did nothing wrong, how awful someone reported you, and that the police came. It's no different to being at the beach. It must be a real struggle looking after two small DC in a flat.

Good point about the clean up, broken glass etc.

Were there any signs? Or anything on the council website (assuming council maintained)?

@Legoandloldolls
It's also really mean to report small groups of teenagers who are socially distancing, but many are doing so in this area at least, and it does mainly seem to be mothers with young children.

YANBU. Your toddlers need to play outdoors sometimes for their own health and wellbeing.

If the police really came out that quickly then I'm gobsmacked that they have the time and resources to dedicate to this considering that they don't follow up on actual crime like break ins.

I think that the sandpit counts as part of the playground so you broke the rules but a lot of people are flouting rules now so compared to the parties on the beach, your infringement is so tiny. The person who reported you is a massive dick. I don't understand people who report people like you.

Sand doesn’t naturally occur in parks. Well it does in our beach front park, I can't see what the difference is.

Playgrounds are out of bounds. It's because the equipment can be contaminated by little hands and transmitted that way.

@kahronah
The woman is in a flat...are you suggesting she puts a sandpit in her house?

Play in a bunker on a golf course, that's allowed.

By the way. You were not obliged to give the police your details, I would have refused. My husband, retired police officer, now refuses to carry any ID for this reason. He'll be arrested before telling them anything.

At least you know that the police basically can’t issue fines or make anyone follow any ‘guidelines’ thanks to that entitled cunt Cummings. Also that kids playing in a sandpit will be the least of their worries now that it’s a free for all where any excuse is fair game, literally anything will do apparently - everyone can do whatever the fuck they like & make any old shit up to justify their behaviour.

I’d just be careful as the second peak won’t be far off thanks to that situation and the fact that the government is a global laughing stock without a shred of credibility left...you’ll be far from the only one ignoring the rules now & your circumstances are more justifiable than most OP.

Thanks everyone. I know I technically broke the rules but I've seen parents with their small children in that play park throughout lockdown and would have never dreamed of reporting them!

After 9 weeks with two toddlers in a flat we are getting pretty desperate for things to do now and I genuinely didn't see an issue with playing in the sand so early in the morning.

I think my emotions are heightened after the Dominic Cummings story too. We have no family around so when DH and I get ill, we have to muddle on through!

Yeah, you broke the rules, but jeez, it's heavy policing, and in the light of everything that's been going on, I'd be really pissed off too.

It's like police pulling you over for doing 70.5mph on the motorway, whilst others whizz by at 120mph.

You could contact the local police and ask them to clarify their policy given the Cummings developments. If this had happened to me I would.

Does your flat have any outdoor communal space? If so, would anyone object to you getting one of those sandpit things with a lid?

So one doesn't have to give police details in any circumstances unless you're being arrested?

My husband's work van got stolen and the police couldn't even be bothered and they've turned up in the park because someone reported you ?Wow!
This pandemic has really raised eyebrows for me in soo many ways. OP, don't worry about it , at least you didn't get fined .

@Legoandloldolls absolutely do this, you can get a shell paddling pool that takes maybe 3 washing up bowls of water, you stay at the park with kids and your DP does a relay and have paddling pool at the park.

No way less harmful than sitting on a picnic blanket.

Parks are open where I am. Seems to be another postcode lottery like so many other things.

YABU. You did break lockdown and you were right to be reported. If you’re angry about that, don’t break the rules. Simple.

should have quoted Cummings at them - the PM & Cabinet all support the notion that there is “room for reasonable disagreement” over intrepretation of lockdown rules after all and “The rules necessitate that you exercise judgment,” . You were using your judgement and felt it was OK.

Yes technically you broke the rules but I think you did what you needed to do. If youd gone through the tape and started using the swings that would be different.

Bot for goodness sake we have a garden and a park within walking distance and we are struggling a bit. You're cooped up in a flat. What about your DCs mental health and yours? Are you supposed to just sit and mentally rot away for months on end?

Take the warning but try not to feel bad about it people are breaching lockdown in far worse ways than allowing their children to play in a flipping sandpit.

I would have asked for more detail as to how you had broken the rules. If the park was open (are parks open?) and the sand pit was not cordoned off then surely it is ok to visit a park and play with your own equipment, just like the beach.

Whilst I realise the police have a difficult job the public need to put the authorities under pressure over this, otherwise nothing will change. This attitude of 'sorry love just doing my job' doesn't wash with me. Were you scared that you would have been fined if you had asked for clarification?

You could contact the local police and ask them to clarify their policy given the Cummings developments. If this had happened to me I would.

Why? Because it's easier to bother the police trying to apply whatever guidelines they have been given, than it would be to contact your MP or the government themselves?

Ridiculous!