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Original poster

Just got a letter to show the police when out

293 replies

incognitomum · 25/03/2020 16:28

I'm a care worker and my boss has given is all letters to prove we're legit to be out and about. Am wondering if there's new measures coming? I've seen plenty out and about today when driving home.

OP posts:
TabbyMumz · 26/03/2020 08:40

"presume they were being asked what they were planning on buying and if it wasn't essential turned away*"
Surely they would have just said "food" or "shopping". Who in their right mind would say anything else? Sounds like the police are being over the top here. They dont have powers to turn people away from a supermarket. We are all allowed to go to the supermarket.

Mammyloveswine · 26/03/2020 08:40

I went to Aldi for milk, bread, fresh fruit and veg the other day and I also bought 2 bottles of wine and a bottle of single malt for my DH.

Still couldn't get loo roll though...

MiddlesexGirl · 26/03/2020 08:52

@Rebellenny You don't need to ring up to get universal credit. Go to Gov.uk > benefits > universal credit and apply there. If you can get yourself on mumsnet then you're wasting your time trying to make a phone claim.

Yesterdayforgotten · 26/03/2020 09:47

There is something I'm alittle unclear on. Can you got for a little drive/run in the car and then home but not get out of the car?

Stinkynincompoop · 26/03/2020 09:53

There is something I'm alittle unclear on. Can you got for a little drive/run in the car and then home but not get out of the car?

....but what would be the point of going out. If you didnt go for work/groceries/essentials OR get out and go for a walk/run (so could potentially be exercise) then surely it's exactly the sort of thing they are discouraging....?

Doobydoo · 26/03/2020 10:05

I work in a care home and we have all been given letters.

Yesterdayforgotten · 26/03/2020 10:08

Stinkynincompoop to go watch the sea from the car only without the fish and chips! Thats the point. So it is a no because they cant police it?

Yesterdayforgotten · 26/03/2020 10:09

I wouldnt be leaving the car at anytime.

Leflic · 26/03/2020 10:16

If it’s not essential to leave the house (ie to look at the sea) then you shouldn’t.
The less people moving around the better. There’s no chance you’ll need fuel, to change a tyre or have an accident if you’re at home. There’s no chance someone will see you and think “ well she’s doing it” and do it too ( and the next and the next person).

VivaLeBeaver · 26/03/2020 10:18

No, you can't police are pulling over cars near me and saying it's no unnecessary travel.

Saying that you can't drive somewhere to exercise, exercise must be done from home address.

Yesterdayforgotten · 26/03/2020 10:23

Thank you both for clarifying and taking the time. Good to know Smile

SapphireSalute · 26/03/2020 10:25

I think further lockdown is coming

Our workplace ( open for essential c+c and essential deliveries only) has been told we will all have letters to carry for the police. Interesting!!

BiarritzCrackers · 26/03/2020 10:26

I don't think that is represented in the legislation at all, about not driving to a place of exercise. Of course it would be unnecessary to drive half an hour, but a few minutes to get people out of an estate and into a wide open space means they will have fewer contacts with others.

Yesterdayforgotten · 26/03/2020 10:36

BiarritzCrackers yeah but if it is such a short drive to get away from people than couldnt you just walk or cycle it from your address?

Rubyroost · 26/03/2020 10:38

No, police aren't being over the top! They're not being over the top enough! And it's not authoritarian, police have consent by vast majority as they realise the effect that this could have on the nhs and lives. Look at rest of Europe before you say our police are ott, they're treading very softly softly and when you see rest of Europe's cases becoming more steady and ours continuing to increase and death rate zooming up. Then... Perhaps, you will eat your words

BiarritzCrackers · 26/03/2020 10:56

You could, but 4 minutes to get somewhere spacious in a car at 20mph is 30 minutes walking. The walk there and back would be an hour.

You would have more public contacts walking in built up areas; pavements are not two metres across. People are trying to do things that reduce their public contacts.

MiracletoCome · 26/03/2020 10:56

Why do so many on MN think that their advice overrides the official government advice, this is happening on nearly every thread.

Ignore and follow government advice.

Yesterdayforgotten · 26/03/2020 11:08

BiarritzCrackers but how do they police it? As somebody said earlier going for a drive isnt permitted and exercise has to be done from your home address apparently.

BiarritzCrackers · 26/03/2020 11:17

Which is why the police are meant to be adopting a proportionate policy of common sense, and focusing on breaking up gatherings of people in public areas, which are the risky behaviours.

It is not represented anywhere in the legislation that exercise has to be from your home address. Nor in the explanatory guidance from the government, nor the BBC's "how to interpret" this guide.

adaline · 26/03/2020 11:20

The police are currently at our local beach stopping people from driving there. If you can walk there from your home, fine, but you shouldn't be driving to get to get anywhere except work and the shops, or for medical care.

We're very fortunate to have fields over the road from us for walks, or we can walk to the local beach in half an hour too. We took the dog out this morning and within minutes he was running about through the fields. I do feel sorry for people who are going to be stuck wandering through housing estates or town centres.

Yesterdayforgotten · 26/03/2020 11:28

Yes adeline we are semi rural and also very lucky to have walking tracks etc within afew minutes walking distance.

Yesterdayforgotten · 26/03/2020 11:31

'The police are currently at our local beach stopping people from driving there.'

I'm surprised, driving there to congregate? It is hardly sunbathing weather or are they all going for a walk on the beach?

BiarritzCrackers · 26/03/2020 11:34

FWIW I am not making these points on behalf of myself - I'm on the edge of a low density country town, with big commons and fields close by. But other people are not so well placed, and I empathise with them when they are engaging in practices that do not increase risk of contact in any way. Which is what we are all trying to achieve.

Tartyflette · 26/03/2020 11:36

You could always take a shopping list to show someone if necessary -- put bog roll, tissues, paracetamol etc on it.
Mine also has bread and milk....
But the emergency powers act has only just come into force today.

AutumnRose1 · 26/03/2020 11:36

“ BiarritzCrackers yeah but if it is such a short drive to get away from people than couldnt you just walk or cycle it from your address?”

No. The car thing confused me too. I don’t have one and live on the border of London. A ten minute drive along a major route would take me to a much less busy place to exercise. I suppose they want to avoid people breaking down in cars or bikes.