A LOT of people are being utter dicks!!!

[ReceiptsAreSweet]

Name Changed-I work in the police control room in a large county (one of the largest in England).

I worked a ten hour shift today answering 999 and 101 calls.

At LEAST!! 90% of my calls today were from people reporting 'mass gatherings'.

'All the neighbours kids are out!'

'My next door neighbour's having a BBQ, I'm sure that's not allowed'
'My friend's got a party arranged for tonight and she's not going to cancel it!'
'I'm just out walking my dog and there's a group of lads building a fire and playing by the stream'

'I've just been in Aldi and everyone's queuing up outside together 'cause they won't let more than 2 people in at a time'

This is just the direct calls reporting things people know aren't right.

Add to this, calls like 'My boyfriend's on bail, he's at my friend's house-can I go see him even though I was with him when he was arrested?'

'I'm just at my friend's and (insert normal ish call issue)'
(Of course these aren't 'real' call reasons because I can't do that. But they're similar.

And I am not exaggerating the quantity. I'm terrified. Totally terrified. People just aren't listening.

These were people from all different areas of the county, rich areas, poor areas, every type of area. I'm so upset tonight. Honestly I could cry. What is wrong with people?

I have put this on here in the hope that, if you recognise yourself in scenarios like what people may call about, you change. But I know full well I am preaching to the choir. I hope I am anyway. Sorry.

I have no words anymore except Thank you for all you are doing

Same here. I manage the people,who take those calls and the amount of people swearing at the call handlers when they don’t get the permission to do something they want to do is astounding. They are basically ringing 999 and 101 to tell us why the lockdown doesn’t mean them and want us to agree. Or we have the gathering calls, there are 3 people in the street, my neighbour has had a visitor,

We have been so busy and of course we are losing staff every day to self-isolation. The poor call handlers are inundated with this and they are becoming drained.

If people carry on like this then I expect the lockdown will be even more strict.

Thank you @threelions. I don't feel I deserve thanks though. I sit on my bum all day answering phones. I am in awe of the officers on the front line as well as all our emergency services and supermarket staff. But people need to stop this. It's lunacy. They seem to think they're on holiday.

I hope you're right magentarocks And yes I have been sworn at a lot today, more than normal!

It doesn't make me feel any better that It's happening in your area too (assuming you're not in the same one as me)!

Ex-police and ex-prison service here so you have my sympathy and my respect.

Even in normal times, we could state the obvious in nine-foot-high letters of fire and some people would saunter past and claim not to have noticed.

Thick people, petty people, malicious people, thoroughly infuriating people- they're always around but they seem to come out of the woodwork even more when there's a genuine crisis.

For now, try and take comfort in the fact that you are doing your absolute best to keep us safe and that for the first time in a long time, the vast majority of people see and value what you do in a way they simply took for granted before.

Even if you do not consider yourself to be on the frontline, the fact that you are there fielding calls and directing resources means everything to those who are. You are a vital part of the team.

I'd say go and have a large glass of 🍷 because you deserve it - but I don't know if you are on earlies tomorrow. Keep your chin up and stay safe.

Oh, and 🍷 for you too, MagentaRocks, and my thanks for what you do.

Receiptsaresweet I expect it is the same across the uk. I am in the south west covering two counties.

Thank you for all you are doing! I can appreciate this, my next door neighbours are currently having what seems to be a house party and singing karaoke to 80’s music. I’m furious but if I report it they will know it’s me and very aware I’m stuck in the house self isolating with a toddler for god knows how long and don’t want to create tension but it’s so stupid. To make it worse the neighbours also a fire fighter but clearly not taking the restrictions seriously!

Thanks Teds

@TedsFederationRep spot on! Perfect choice of words too couldn't of put it better! Hats off and the utmost respect is well deserved for you both @TedsFederationRep and @ReceiptsAreSweet you throughly deserve it! All front line workers and volunteers as well as their families are in our thoughts here every single day thank you just is not enough x
Literally feel to dress up like batman and go around tasering and taking out every single fool who is adding pressure to an already critical global situation x

By definition half of the population is of below average intelligence. Our justice system is too soft so isn’t an effective deterrent to stupid behaviour.

Sincerest apologies @MagentaRocks I have no idea why you were not on my post also I did tap on your name to highlight all three of you! I don't know how to edit my post now but here's to all of you! cheers and thank you so very much for all you do and continue to do x

We had a bbq today 😳 but it was just me and DH because our bloody oven broke and we didn’t want to get anyone out to fix it

A neighbour three doors down came and knocked on our door to tell us bbqs aren’t allowed and it isn’t a holiday
He did not stand back and got really shirty when I wouldn’t properly open the door to him and couldn’t see the irony.

People ARE dicks

Sorry for you OP

People are dicks, indeed.

I'm confused. Is your complaint about the ones breaking the law or about the ones reporting it?

Thanks for all your hard work BTW

Thank you for the vital work you are doing and sorry that you are having to deal with so many absolute dickheads.
This whole thing has made me realise just how many stupid, selfish fuckwits i live amongst and to be honest that scares me more than the virus.
Im off work at the moment, we have been home for a week now, i need to go to the local shop but in all honesty im scared to leave the house.

Thank you everyone. As it happens I did have a large glass of wine (I'm more scared of running out of wine than food)
@blubellsarebells it is so so scary.
@Flaxmeadow no, I was grateful for each call even though they were upsetting. Police have no powers yet and I know we need to have proof that we need it, before we get it (she says hoping she isn't being too naive).

Thesisspecies I've taken some comfort in that. Just a bit. Lol
Aw @Dennisreynoldsduster that's different and I'm sorry you had to encounter that rude man.
I'm off today but in tomorrow. I might keep this thread going with how things develop!

I'm just off to work now. Each shift feels double the length as it is so manic. I keep hoping that people will see sense but I am not optimistic. I am also wondering how many staff I have lost to self isolation each day. The more that go off the harder it is to get all the calls answered.

Is it true that from tomorrow the police will be issuing £60 fines for people who are out and exploiting the rules OP? I hope so 🙏

Lol they taking the p* ...

@Dennisreynoldsduster looool the bitch left his house unnecessarily to tell you this??? I cant.........

Theres alot of people actually enjoying this.

Its gives them chance to be special (these rules dont apply to me because) or spend their days trying to control others by involving the police.

I have been working from home today. My window over looks the street. I actually though it was lovely to see all the dogs being walked, families getting exercise together. All paying attention to the rules, families or couples out for some exercise with their pets.

It's great family time and exercising everyday, will mean they are more likely to be able to cope if they get ill.

People who are kicking off about people exercising forget, this could go on a while. Those who maintain or start exercising, will be in a better state of health to deal with it.

We had a bbq todaybut it was just me and DH because our bloody oven broke and we didn’t want to get anyone out to fix it

Why would anyone think BBQs, with members of your own household, are banned? People are just making shit up and then saying 'the rules arent clear'

Where has anyone even hinted

well theres plenty of posters on here telling people to report using 101