to think Derbyshire police need to read the LAW and understand that you can't fine people when they are not breaking it

[chomalungma]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-55560814

Surrounded by police, treated like a criminal for driving 5 miles to a beauty spot for a walk.

It is not illegal to drive to exercise.

My rapist is free to walk the streets without worrying about police action. Rape is actually a crime and illegal.

Meanwhile the police are abusing their powers and issuing penalty notices without any legal basis whatsoever.

It's despicable. What a way to undermine the model of policing by consent.

I've just tried twice to post some pictures but it won't work so I've logged onto the computer. These are the answers Derby Police on twitter gave. I'm local and they claim we can't leave our borough (even though it's the same county) and that we can't drive to exercise. Even when I explained that its not the law, nor is it in the guidelines.

@ComDummings
the police are dickheads tbh

Cool, I'll tell my team that who've just dealt with a child death.
Are you 12?

So many people who do not understand the law, nor the meaning of ‘guidance’ nor that the police shouldn’t go around harassing people for doing perfectly legal things.

It’s a disgrace.

@SnoozyLou

You can drive to exercise if you can't exercise closer to home. You can do lots of things, but it doesn't make them a good idea.

It's winter. Given the road conditions, a car accident on the way to or from your chosen exercise spot isn't beyond the realms of possibility. The NHS is close to breaking point - who is going to treat you? Is it fair to put the police and fire brigade at increased risk when they have to come and cut you out of your car? And how many people pick up Covid during their hospital stay?

So much entitlement, so little common sense.

We are talking about what it set down in law though not whether it is sensible. They should write the laws appropriately if they don't want people doing things.

[quote LowestEbb]@ComDummings
the police are dickheads tbh

Cool, I'll tell my team that who've just dealt with a child death.
Are you 12?[/quote]
What is the relevance of that to a police force abusing the law?

Are you saying you support this abuse of power?

Yep - they did it in the first lockdown too, to dog walkers, etc. We're not a densely populated county so you'd think they could do something more useful. Those walkers could have been told to leave rather than fined. I live on the A6 at the gateway to the Peak District and first time round there was a huge sign telling people essential travel only and to stay at home.

@SendMeHome

Is it not? It uses “should”, which usually refers to the law, right?

You should minimise time spent outside your home, but you can leave your home to exercise. This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.

Your local area is then defined as within your village, town or the part of city that you reside.

It wasn’t illegal in lockdown 1, it was guidance, but I’m not so sure this time.

No, it refers to the law if it says ‘must’. ‘Should’ is guidance. People should choose to go to court if they think the penalty is unfair. In any case, a court will take account of your ability to pay if it upholds a fine.

@Lemonpiano what is the relevance of the post calling us all dickheads??

It's still guidance, police chief council chairman said so yesterday on BBC breakfast

Why were the police there? On another thread it was stated a child was missing in that area so why were they all there? Why not tell them they can't walk there and tell them to leave? Most police give you a chance to go voluntary rather than issue a fine that will be overturned most were the last time

Remind me never to accept an invite to the Derbyshire police annual picnic!

I dont see the issue with going to an empty place to walk, its only a problem if everyone goes to the same spot (like people packing a beach on a sunny day).

we live right on the C2C (a beautiful walk/cycle track that goes across the north and right outside our back door) and since the begining of the first lock down you cant move on the track because everyone in town comes down to walk it and it links towns so some people walk a long way from their own town and you can barely move.

I would much rather drive 5 minutes along the road to one of the parks which are still pretty empty even though its more hassle than just stepping out of my door and it seems more responsable then adding more to the overcrowded walk.

[quote LowestEbb]@ComDummings
the police are dickheads tbh

Cool, I'll tell my team that who've just dealt with a child death.
Are you 12?[/quote]
I’m obviously talking about the police being dickheads in the circumstances relevant the original post 🙄

That’s totally heavy handed.

I work only 2 miles from home, but my nearest petrol station and proper supermarket are all further than 5 miles from home. I live rurally but there is nowhere really that’s safe to walk from my front door - windy country lane with no pavements.

I would have thought driving 5 miles to somewhere quiet, where social distancing can be easily maintained is exactly “in the spirit of lockdown” rather than walking in busy areas with lots of people around.

We keep our horses at a yard 7 miles from home - we can drive to them to provide care, but is riding exercise? Are we breaking the rules if DD comes up to ride hers?

Last week 22 people had to be rescued by the police and mountain rescue in Derbyshire because the weather changed in an hour and they got trapped by snow. None were remotely local.

This put all those people at potential risk

So I can see why they are trying to discourage walkers.

They did this last time. Got told they were wrong. Why haven’t they learned.?

Only leaving your home for essential purposes is law

Police do have discretion to decide what is reasonable distance to travel on their patch.

Stay local - don't drive 5 miles to a beauty spot, even if you are a bit sick of your local park. You can take a drink from home if you aren't passing a takeaway

It does seem to be certain police forces that keep featuring in the news, ours just wanted to search bags for non essentials.

@RoseAndRose

Only leaving your home for essential purposes is law

Police do have discretion to decide what is reasonable distance to travel on their patch.

Stay local - don't drive 5 miles to a beauty spot, even if you are a bit sick of your local park. You can take a drink from home if you aren't passing a takeaway

And exercise is one of those essential things and where is 5 miles mentioned, could you link

If they were sitting in the car together it’s illegal. And I totally agree that driving several miles is not acceptable.

@AldiAisleofCrap

You exercise in your local area, not the area you wish you lived in.

I would say 7 miles is local. 🤷‍♀️ The law doesn’t specify a distance. The guidance says you should exercise locally (not even sure if that’s in the legislation). It’s not like they came from 100 miles away.

@roaeandrose but exercise has been deemed an essential reason to leave home. And local hasn't been defined, so who's to say 5 miles isn't local?
If takeaway coffee places are allowed to open, you must be able to use them, even if its on the way to/from an essential journey. Otherwise all takeaway or click and collect options would have been told to close?

Last week 22 people had to be rescued by the police and mountain rescue in Derbyshire because the weather changed in an hour and they got trapped by snow. None were remotely local.

This put all those people at potential risk

So I can see why they are trying to discourage walkers.

Because of that your okay with this flagrant abuse of power?

I'm astonished by this.

Previously, there was guidance that the exercise should be for at least as long as the journey. So no driving 2 hours for a 10 minute walk.

Driving 5 miles, or 7 miles if that takes about 20 minutes and they walk for an hour (with their tea to help stay warm) would have been within the guidelines.

As many posters have said, they have to travel further for their supermarket.

If it was a popular tourist spot and hundreds were flocking there, causing issues with parking and inability to social distance, then the Police would certainly be in the right to move them along.

A wide, empty space for 2 of them to take a walk, not so much.

Power crazed.