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Original poster

Kit Malthouse wants people to call the police if they see more than 6 people eating supper next door

142 replies

Jourdain11 · 14/09/2020 12:07

Is it not dangerous to encourage people to behave like vigilantes?! I mean, okay, call the police if there's a massive house party - but if there were a group of people next door I'd personally want to give my neighbours the benefit of the doubt.

This is just encouraging snoopers and also is going to result in a massive waste of police time! I have a friend who is a police officer and she said during lockdown, the phone was ringing off the hook with important issues such as "I've seen Mrs James going out of her front door three times today"....

OP posts:
katy1213 · 15/09/2020 00:48

And in the unlikely event that the police turned up - wouldn't they need a warrant? Or will your seven-person dinner party obligingly come out with their hands up, saying 'Fair cop, guv'?

BigChocFrenzy · 15/09/2020 00:57

Are you supposed to report your neighbours if they only break the law in a “very specific and limited way."

Should Rishi in No 11 Downing St report BJ in No 10 Downing St ?

Original poster
Jourdain11 · 15/09/2020 01:26

@TracyBeakerSoYeah

Anyone want to hazard a guess on which MP or advisor from which party will break the rule of 6 first?
Hmm, my money is on Robert Jenrick. He seems accident-prone!
OP posts:
rosiejaune · 15/09/2020 02:15

@VanGoghsDog

"Support bubble is for a single person household with another household."

No, it's for a household with a single adult in it. Which could be one person, or it could be 10, depending on how many children that person has.

Plus however many people are in the other household (which could be over 6 already anyway).

Tavannach · 15/09/2020 02:26

My neighbours are vile noisy scummy fuckers who will repeatedly break the rules (again).

So are mine. Well, they're not vile - just stupid - but I'm not going to phone it in.

480Widdio · 15/09/2020 02:34

Not a chance I am reporting anyone.

garlictwist · 15/09/2020 03:27

I spent tonight reading in the park. It was a warm sunny evening and it was heaving. I'd say 80 percent of groups were well over six people. No one cares it seems.

msflibble · 15/09/2020 03:44

YANBU op, it's sinister as fuck

MinnieMountain · 15/09/2020 06:00

I had to have 3 "erm, would you report us?" conversions with neighbours last night so we can have friends over on Saturday.

2 laughed at the idea, so I think reporting will rarely happen but still it's a ridiculous situation.

Original poster
Jourdain11 · 15/09/2020 08:23

Priti Patel joining in now. The virus is increasing - it must be the public's fault. It can't be because it's a virus and that's what they do.... Confused

OP posts:
DontBeShelfish · 15/09/2020 08:28

I've rolled my eyes a bit at people talking about restrictions being the future of our society, but this really did give me pause. I'm worried how this could be mismanaged by those running it, and misused by those encouraged to shop their neighbours.

justfinefornow · 15/09/2020 08:28

People turning in people - Hitler Youth we’re encouraged to behave like that weren’t they?

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 15/09/2020 08:31

I broke the rules yesterday. My neighbour brought her children to my garden which made us 7 in total. Adults socially distanced, the children are in both school & afterschool care together and have played together all summer. I'm not beating myself up over it.

IncandescentSilver · 15/09/2020 08:39

There really isn't enough thought being put into these ultra reactiomary, political-reputation based measures. And why has the rest of the nhs crumbled in the UK, but not in other countries?

In the past 6 months, in Scotland at least, our basic human rights have been infringed so as to ban, variously, travel more than 5 miles from home, having new sexual partners, having people you don't already live with stay over, laughing and listening to music in pubs, meeting with various sized groups of people, fathers seeing their children born, weddings, being present at funerals, etc.. Working from home is STILL the official advice here. Cities are desolate.

International law (ie the ECHR and Syraceuse Principles and associated case law) only permit derogation from human rights and freedoms where there is an imminent threat to the entire population as a whole, and it must be for as short a term as possible.

Why is there so little understanding of, and resuect for, human rights amongst our politicians? This virus's mortality rate simply doesnt warrant the measures taken. Its all about avoiding Boris and Nicola being blamed by the media for"excess deaths"and keeping their parties electable.

Mintychoc1 · 15/09/2020 08:46

@veryvery

I think the new rules might just be a journalist's dream! They'll be camped out looking to see if MPs & advisors break them....
Absolutely!
longwayoff · 15/09/2020 08:47

The lovely Ms Patel, Home Sec, on radio now, saying we should all turn in our neighbours as she most certainly would do so. "It's the right thing to do". Christ on a bike.

PhilCornwall1 · 15/09/2020 09:46

@justfinefornow

People turning in people - Hitler Youth we’re encouraged to behave like that weren’t they?
Perhaps we'll have the Boris Youth popping up soon.
PhilCornwall1 · 15/09/2020 09:48

@longwayoff

The lovely Ms Patel, Home Sec, on radio now, saying we should all turn in our neighbours as she most certainly would do so. "It's the right thing to do". Christ on a bike.
She said the same on Sky when pushed. She said she would report her neighbours.

She probably isn't that popular in the street she lives in, more so now.

SerendipityJane · 15/09/2020 09:56

@Brahumbug

When do we all get measured up for our Gestapo uniforms?
The Gestapo were a secret police, so didn't wear uniforms in Germany (they sometimes did in occupied territories to identify themselves to soldiers to avoid being shot on sight which happened to a lot of civilians).

This wheeze sounds more like it's suited to the paramilitary wing of the Nazi party - in German the SA, but presumably that's what the Covid Marshals will be in the UK. "Boris' Bruisers".

When the rule of law and order is finished in a few weeks, then shooting on sight might be a thing. It would certainly "learn 'em" as so many people seem to want.

Original poster
Jourdain11 · 15/09/2020 09:59

She was more fussed about people walking in the park and stopping to chat the other families though. It is dangerous behaviour and puts other people at risk.

Does she believe what she is saying?

Mishal Husain kind of poked her into saying it (as with Kit Malthouse yesterday - she's turning into Paxman) but she did sound genuinely taken aback by the candour of the answer she got. Or she's a very good actor.

OP posts:
PhilCornwall1 · 15/09/2020 10:07

Does she believe what she is saying?

If you are talking about the Home Secretary, it's unlikely she can remember what she said.

Anyone remember how many tests she told us had been done?

"three hundred thousand, and thirty four, nine hundred and seventy four thousand"

Tootletum · 15/09/2020 10:12

Yes I think it's shocking. So I can go to the office and work with 10 colleagues all day, but if I organise a BBQ with those same 10 people, my neighbours can ensure I get a criminal record. That's the thing, it's not like getting a speeding ticket. It's a criminal offence you're being asked to shop your friends and neighbours for, which could lead to them losing their jobs. For a BBQ.

redcarbluecar · 15/09/2020 10:17

Listening to Kit Malthouse on the radio yesterday, I don't think he was as direct about this as has been quoted/reported. He was pushed for an answer to the question, was cagey and then seemed to suggest reporting could be an option. I felt that rather than urging people to report each other he was trying to hedge round the obvious issue that the new rules cannot be policed, by suggesting that we'll mainly be self-regulating. I might have misinterpreted/missed something, but sincerely hope nobody thinks there's now a government mandate to spy on other people and report any little thing to the police.

PhilCornwall1 · 15/09/2020 10:18

@Tootletum

Yes I think it's shocking. So I can go to the office and work with 10 colleagues all day, but if I organise a BBQ with those same 10 people, my neighbours can ensure I get a criminal record. That's the thing, it's not like getting a speeding ticket. It's a criminal offence you're being asked to shop your friends and neighbours for, which could lead to them losing their jobs. For a BBQ.
The trouble is, the people supporting this pathetic law will say, well don't have a BBQ with more than six people.

Perish the thought we are actually allowed to enjoy ourselves.

We are in the middle of a GLOBAL pandemic you know!!

Saz12 · 15/09/2020 10:22

Such a clash between what’s right for an individual v society!

Government needs people to spend so economy picks up, business keep going, but individuals -if they can-need to save against an insecure short-term future.
So make people anxious about having friends round, encourage them out to pub /cafe /restaurant to meet up (and spend).

And government gets the benefit of blaming everyone for the second wave deaths, because almost everyone will inadvertently find themselves in a group of 7 at some point in the next few months, or (shock!horror!) will fail to report next door for having their grandchildren & children round at the same time as the washing-machine repairman.

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