Reporting a shop and its customers...

[ripples101]

It is about Covid-19, so I was unsure whether to post here or on the Health/Coronavirus board. But I do want to know if I'm being unreasonable or not.

For the record, I live in Greater Manchester, which is now on local lockdown. This is especially relevant to this thread, especially so as the village I live in has been identified as the place/source which has caused a rise in Covid cases throughout the entire borough.

So today I was going to my local supermarket, walking through the village, and a new shop was having it's "grand opening". The shop itself is tiny - typical of a small village/town high street. Not a chain. Just an independent shop. Outside the shop were two tables with complimentary drinks and nibbles.

As i walked past, there were only a couple of people outside the shop, but I looked inside the shop and it was packed (for a shop of its size) - around 10-15 people inside. Not one person inside the shop was wearing a face mask.

On my way back from the supermarket (about 20 minutes later), outside the shop was now packed. Blocking the entire footpath, so I walked into the road to get past. Looked in the shop and it was also full of people. Not one person, outside or inside the shop were wearing face masks.

When I got home I decided to phone 101, to report this. That is my first AIBU. Was I unreasonable to do this?

The person I spoke to from 101 told me that the Police will do nothing. He said that I (me) should go to into the shop itself and confront the management and the shops customers. He said if I'm not happy with the response I get from the management and customers, I can then contact my local council to see if they will deal with it.

He did put me through to another Police officer, and they also confirmed that the Police wouldn't do anything, and that it was my responsibility to talk to the management/customers.

This is my second AIBU. AIBU to think this is unacceptable for the Police to ask me to do this - to confront the shop and its customers myself?

Like I said at the start of this post, this happened in a town that has been identified as being the source of a Covid spread throughout an entire borough, which is one of the causes that has resulted in Greater Manchester (and other areas in the North) now being on lockdown.

Was it a load of Muslims crammed into a terrace house? If so, its fine to be horrible about them. If it was some middle class glorifed cheese and wine party.....no let it go on.

Just incase I am being ironic.

No one is telling tales.
The shop & its customers are showing that with their behaviour that they are as thick as shit.

YANBU to report it.
police were unreasonable to suggest you ‘confront’ or even ask anyone anything in the circs.
It is understandable the police weren’t able to attend. Although I’ve seen them attend for far less at the moment - depends on work patterns/load.

@stretchedmarks

I agree. I didn’t want my post to come across as a “woe is me”. I just wanted to put across to the person who criticised me how it had affected me.

I don’t think it’s a bad thing to care. And i don’t subscribe to the idea that because I can’t make a difference then I shouldn’t try to.

It upset me today to see so many people ignore the guidelines in an area that has been put under restriction, an area that has been identified as causing an increase in cases across an entire borough where many more vulnerable people can potentially be affected.

To see a lot of people not seemingly care about that is upsetting. To see a lot of people who could do something simple but choose not to is something that I find upsetting. To report it and to be met with a response which said they won’t do anything but I should do something was, well, a response I found confusing.

To be told that I’m a busybody and should only look after myself is something I find myopic.

Frightening isn’t it how quick people turn on each other.

Anybody ever read or seen The Crucible?

@BakedCam

To quote you: “ Instead, you've posted about a shop that had customers you know nothing about and you decide they're all breaking the law when you don't know this.”

That’s just it. I haven’t decided anything. I’ve asked the police to do this.

The police refused, and instead asked me to go in and confront the shop owners.

The police didn’t tell me to do nothing. The police told me to do something. Confront them. I feel that that is unreasonable of the police to ask me to do this.

If they were eating, they don't need to wear a face covering.

Lordy!! not multi generational, surely that is only in Italy or Bradford.

YANBU and you know it.

They should not be mixing that way right now.

It is NOT your job to confront them (or to go into the gathering and risk yourself).

To those saying 'it is not your business', don't you understand that this affects us all? If cases increase because people gather in groups, risking increased spread, we are all affected. This thing is everyone's business because it impacts us all. It is not fair for some people do do whatever they like, but for all of us suffer as a result.

10-15 could be a family. My support bubble (lone adult) is a household of 9 people. When we all go out together we probably look like we're breaking rules, but actually we are allowed to be together. I'm not in greater Manchester, but as I understand it support bubbles are still allowed.

Then put a formal complaint in to GMP about the inappropriate response you received. Did you ask for their collar number or was it 101? You've a right to complain about this. How far it gets you, is anyone's guess.

Of course, it is natural to feel frustrated given we are all living under the threat of a virus that is still largely unknown about. I disagree with random reports because it isn't going to produce instant results.

I didn't see my grandchildren (despite a PP accusing me of being a teenager) for three months or my daughter. My husband has had Covid-19.

There are bigger problems than this. The police were irresponsible advising what they did but i understand why they didn't attend.

We don't need to turn on each other at a time when so many are living with an unknown. I would no more report the kids from different households playing out today than I would my local shopkeeper for trying to make a living, unless there was a risk of serious harm.

XingMing
Just grateful that I don't live in Manchester where viral vectors seem to be easily disregarded. Please don't leave to go on holiday.

The voice of reason.

So the police can't do anything and it's none of anyone else's business if people are flouting the rules? This is why we are in this mess anyway. I live very close to you OP and I am so cross about a lot of what I am reading on MN and elsewhere . I can no longer meet my son or my Mum indoors because a group of 17-24 year olds in a very affluent, middle class area decided that they were above the rules and have helped to spread it. So to see people crowding into a small shop would have made me angry too. Appreciate that some people are exempt from wearing masks but not everyone will be, it's also the numbers and lack of distancing. Not wanting to be rude about where you live OP (it's a aloey place and lots of lovely people live there), but there also are a lot of people who really do seem to think the rules don't apply to them.

M and S, probably containing pre ordered Covid virus obvs.

The police said ages ago to stop reporting people for not following the guidelines. Police enforce the law not the guidelines. They are overstretched, they don't have time to respond to every complaint.
Are you sure they said to confront everyone? I just find that hard to believe.
Contact your MP if you like but now the grand opening is over it might not be so busy.
It's annoying people don't follow the guidance but I wouldn't expect the police to do anything.

If they have advised you to report it to the Council then do that.

OP, all you can do it look after yourself and your own. You can't police everyone. Save your energy from keeping your own lot safe. I'm over looking out for others.

@BakedCam

It was 101. I was given a report number. I didn’t get the name(s) of the two police officers (or contact handlers) I spoke to. The first was dismissive, but put me through to another officer. The second repeated what the first person said. The second officer (second person I spoke to) was sympathetic and agreed with my concerns, but wouldn’t officially report it.

You turned against me, pedantically nitpicked, and made some condescending posts just for good measure. Thanks for that. But within your posts, you’ve made some good points. So thanks for that (genuinely) also.

@Rosebel

They said that I should confront the shop management and customers.

Then if that didn’t work I should contact the council.

They said that was the official policy for dealing with this kind of scenario.

As you wish. I didn't turn against you. I wasn't rude or nasty. I merely pointed out we weren't on a lockdown. I did not accuse you of anything. It was my opinion based on the situation you described.

That's what happens on discussion forums. People have a habit of offering opinions in places like AIBU.

You were pedantic.

And your last paragraph is again condescending.