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.

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows you're not even aware that an 'arrest record' doesn't exist, but you crack on

Bloody hell, this is Gogolian.

freezedriedrmance I live rurally no footpaths on the roads. We walk on the public rights of way. I find it difficult to believe that if you live rurally you don’t have direct access to a walk. Failing that Jo Wicks will keep you fit.
The weather at the moment isn’t the best for safe walking so we should be risk assessing. Stay in to protect the NHS they don’t need a bunch of pedantic women with broken ankles or hips adding to the problem.

Am chuckling at the thought that talking while you're walking is ok but walking while you're out talking is not!

The Derbyshire police are yet again acting like twats: these women acted legally.

See I think we get into odd territory if we start defining what speed of walking counts as exercise. As long as they are moving that counts as exercise in my book. My DH is out 'shuffling' with our toddler now. Probably talking to her too. Still counts.

@KarlKennedysDurianFruit
@LowestEbb

The police do a very difficult job. I am grateful for the work they do and they must work under immense stress. It is something I am grateful for.

However - just because they have a difficult job, stressful and potentially life threatening does not mean they can they can carry out actions like this.

And trying to dismiss their actions by saying how hard the police work is a dangerous precedent - the police cannot be above the law.

This is also frightening:

Derbyshire Police said: "It is up to each individual officer on a case-by-case basis to decide what is reasonable as the legislation does not proscribe a distance."

No it ISN'T up to an individual officer decide and that's EXACTLY BECAUSE the legislation does not proscribe a distance!!! They're admitting their officers decide on the law

@angrymum22 I never said I live rurally, I said my local park was down a weaving country lane. There's absolutely nothing wrong with my fitness, but I dont see why I should have to walk 2.6 miles to go for a walk at a public garden, when a) its very local, b) government have specifically said you can drive to exercise and c) the gardens are allowed to be open.

Why, if I chose to follow the law should I be told by my local police force that I am not allowed to do the above?

I literally have got to the point of "do what you want"
Most police aren't stopping people from travelling and I don't see the difference between driving from Wales to Chester for an MOT (not essential to have done in Chester) or driving 5 miles for a walk
I've spoken to people travelling 35 miles for an alloy scratch repair 🤷🏽‍♀️ so stay home/essential travel really seems to be up to the individual

I dont understand it - if I was the boss of those police I would be drumming into them = chat and guidance only !

This is also frightening:

Derbyshire Police said: "It is up to each individual officer on a case-by-case basis to decide what is reasonable as the legislation does not proscribe a distance."

No it ISN'T up to an individual officer decide and that's EXACTLY BECAUSE the legislation does not proscribe a distance!!! They're admitting their officers decide on the law

^^ Yes - this is going to kick up a massive problem.

It’s unbelievable they’re backing the officers up with that statement. Police uphold the law, they don’t decide it.

It's true that it's guidance not law. Nonetheless, they should stick to it, and I'm okay with the police pointing that out.

@bridgetreilly but they are sticking to it. What have they done thats against the guidance?

How can you obey a law that does not define its provisions?
Except by staying inside for 6 weeks, like I did in the last lockdown, until I noticed the policeman in my road loading all his kids and dogs into the car for country walks. Then I realised it was probably OK.

In that case, you should raise it with your MP and ask them to change to law to prevent people meeting up with one other person outdoors at all

Absolutely

During the first lockdown you couldnt walk with a friend so i didnt

This one you can go for a walk with a friend so i do

And we walk...

It getting to the stage where you have to have a fines kitty in place for leaving your house, so the rich can just carry on and do what they want and the poor stay the fuck at home

The police can point out that people should stick to the guidance. They cannot fine people for breaking the law when they haven't.

@LowestEbb

7 miles is not local fucks sake

Erm I walk 7-10 miles regularly depending on terrain 10miles takes me approx. Three hours...that's a normal family walk for us on Saturday/ Sunday. My nearest super-market is 8miles away! But err if you say so worrying you are in the police with this type of thinking

The law is not decided and enforced individual officer on a case-by-case basis. It is defined by legislation and is the same for everyone.

Here we have a case of the legislation not being defined and not being the same for everyone.

Plus they don't have to prove you are guilty to fine you. You have to prove you are innocent (at some personal inconvenience).

@AndAllOurYesterdays

But you can both exercise and chat at the same time. As indeed they would be doing walking along and talking.

Exactly. And if the government didn't want people chatting while walking they wouldn't have allowed people to exercise with one other person outdoors. They would said you must exercise alone or with your household.

what’s wrong with walking to your local park if it’s only 2.6 miles away. It never ceases to amaze me the upside down thinking from excuse makers.

Maybe someone wants to spend their time walking round a nice safe nature reserve or park, rather than waste 20 mins walking down a busy road/road with no footpaths/road with loads of people walking towards them and then another 20 minutes back?

Why are people driving 5m to meet a pal though? Because people need to see other people. Safely obviously. But we do need it. My easily walkable friend has moved in with parents miles away. My has a car friend 7 miles away, why shouldn't she drive to see me? We both live alone, WFH and need contact.

I can't believe people are defending this abuse of power.

And the fact that the article basically says it's down to the interpretation of guidelines as to whether an individual police officer decide to issue fines.

It's a law or it isn't. And the flask thing is so far beyond petty it's laughable.

Though, as every good Derbyshire police officer knows...flasks spread Covid. FACT.

I live somewhere with NO footpaths
It’s rural and pretty and plenty of people walk the fields and footpaths but/
There are stiles everywhere
It’s rough terrain
It’s pretty isolated
4 miles away is a country park
I shall be going there with my kids and dog because it is safe ... common sense