Is this right? (Lockdown rules)

[WalkingToHelpMyself]

We haven’t been out since Thursday (Our school closed on Friday due to staff shortages), it’s just me and a 5 year old at home.

We walked around the block, literally. DC is not safe on their own due to a mobility problem, they usually use a SN pushchair but can walk and as I only planned a 20 minute walk around the block I held their hand as we walked.

I got stopped by the police and told that DC needs to either be left home (with who I don’t know as I am a single parent, DC only sees their dad for a couple of hours a month) or if they must be outside they have to walk 2 metres in front of me.

I explained that it was our first time out, I’m a single parent living with just this DC and that they had a mobility issue so needed me to hold their hand to prevent falling. If they fall they could fracture their hip, I don’t want to put anymore pressure on the NHS as it is, plus there’s no guarentees I’d be able to stay with DC if they ended up in hospital given the situation so I didn’t want to risk it.

The police said I need to follow the rules or not go out.

I can’t not exercise. I was literally planning a walk around the block with my DC, it’s very obvious when you see them walking they have an issue. I planned to do this once a week, for 20-30 minutes only.

I have arranged online deliveries for my food so don’t need to go out for that and the class that my DC is in has a whatsapp group which is busy atm so I have adult company. I literally wanted a walk.

But it appears I can’t do that and keep my DC safe. I usually use the pushchair if we’re walking a lot and she’s likely to get tired, a 20 minute walk would not tire her out and would actually improve her mobility going forwards to walk.

Is this right? And does anyone know what the rules would be if I decided to use the pushchair with DC instead?

Doesn’t sound right

People living within the same household do not need to observe the 2m rule.

That's not right, you're just supposed to stay 2m away from people outside of your household. You'll be in close contact with children indoors so what would be the point in restricting contact outside?

You are allowed to exercise with a member of the same household

No, that's not right.

The rules are that a household can leave the home for the following:

1. For shopping

1. Once a day for exercise

1. Commutes between separated parents

1. Essential work for supporting vulnerable people

1. Essential travel if a key worker or work cannot be undertaken at home.

Hope you're okay, OP. That was heavy handedness by a police officer.

No not right. You are allowed to walk as a household.

He sounds thick. Social distancing is from everyone outside your household.

This doesn’t sound right at all.

Agree, not correct, you are not expected to distance from your household, especially dependents.

The police officer was wrong. This would really annoy me. I would be tempted to put something online with your local police force suggesting they make sure their officers are correctly briefed.

The guidelines say you can go out for one form of exercise a day alone of with members of your household. So the police officer is wrong.

Shame the police does not seem to know the rules...

No that’s not right at all- you are from the same household.

The 2m rule is for anyone outside of your household. Here is the guidance.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others

Thank you everyone, I did think what I was doing was fine. Will send a message to the local police force on Facebook and alert them to this.

That’s Bollox. You were told incorrectly. Family groups can walk together, especially when one is a child.
Ignore the knob who told you your child has to distance himself from you, he’s talking out of his arse.
Stay safe but more importantly, stay sane. Getting outside, even for just 20 minutes is important for both your mental health as well as physical health.

What hope for society as a whole if the police can’t even get it right.

Police officer was definitely wrong

Unfortunately, these rules will be enforce by sometimes confused - or just bossy - officers,
who have the power to enforce - and fine on the spot

Best to just nod and obey, then message their office

I'd wait until you see a reply posted by the police,
or the same officer may see you and this time give a fine

That's interesting - My son is in a student flat at the moment with 2 other lads and he told me they went for their daily exercise last night together (a walk round the block) and were stopped and told exactly the same by the police that they should be 2m apart. The official guidance is - one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household and they are members of the same household at the moment so I wouldn't have thought that that would apply.

I'd wait until you see a reply posted by the police,
or the same officer may see you and this time give a fine

I don't plan to leave the house again until next Wednesday unless it's an emergency, as I said got food deliveries planned and have adult company via whatsapp

That's wrong.

Do you have a printer you can print the actual government guidance out and carry with you?

You and your ds can do that walk everyday under daily exercise rules with member of the same family and keeping 2m from other non family members.

Do you have a printer you can print the actual government guidance out and carry with you?

No printer but I have a phone that can access the internet and government websites so will try that next time.

Check the news as things are changing all the time but at the mo, no, that's not right - i believe it's up to an hour once a day alone or with members of your household.

More misinformation. There is currently no time limit for the exercise. Do people actually look at the guidelines? I’ve seen people variously state 15 minutes and now above one hour.