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Original poster

Police are pulling over loads of cars in my local town

431 replies

VivaLeBeaver · 26/03/2020 10:15

Stopping people and asking them where they’re going, is it essential, etc. Glad they’re taking it seriously.

And not local to me, but saw this “ticket” on fb. So police saying you can’t drive somewhere to exercise. I know that was being discussed earlier.

Police are pulling over loads of cars in my local town
OP posts:
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7
TrainspottingWelsh · 26/03/2020 18:24

We're definitely in agreement Smile

herecomesthsun · 26/03/2020 18:27

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52053527

herecomesthsun · 26/03/2020 18:29

Coronavirus: Police get new powers to enforce protection

Krisskrosskiss · 26/03/2020 18:29

I think it's just a matter of being sensible... peopelwere driving to the cotswolds of the yorkshire dales when they didnt live anywhere near there and saying it was to walk their dogs or for exercise! We need to stay in our own areas to prevent spreading the virus through communities.. I dont think its really about driving.. if you think the centre of your town is too crowded so you drive to the edge for your run I think that's sensible and the police arent going to stop you coz that's still where you live... I think for the most part police are going to be patrolling popular beauty spots and asking people to go home if they dont live there.. there arent enough police to track every single car everywhere.. this is about people taking the piss with the exercise and dog walking allowance

iWantToBreakBrie · 26/03/2020 18:49

"The police forces insist members of the public should not be driving anywhere to walk their dogs or exercise. However, the Guardian checked with the Cabinet Office, which is overseeing the new restrictions on movement, and a spokeswoman confirmed that the guidelines do not prohibit driving somewhere for exercise or dog walking."

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/26/uk-police-use-drones-and-roadblocks-to-enforce-lockdown

Reginabambina · 26/03/2020 18:51

The thing that concerns me the wide discretion. What if a police officer decides that your travel isn’t essential when it really is? There are lots of essential reasons to travel that aren’t covered by the four guidance categories. Some things are pretty obviously essential like going to hospital because you are in labour but others I could easily see becoming an issue with jobsworth policemen. For example going to the airport to pick up someone from your household who is returning from abroad. Or traveling to tend to a sick relative who is being refused admission to hospital or to pick up a child whose parents have been admitted to hospital.

I appreciate that this is a time of emergency but sitting in your car isn’t going to spread Coronavirus. The police shouldn’t be stopping cars without guidance to the effect that they should assume that a journey is essential unless it is blatantly obvious that it is not.

cologne4711 · 26/03/2020 18:53

As I said again, quoting the current guidelines like they're so holy and special is moronic. We all know the government intended something else and I suspect they will be quickly changed

NOT guidelines. LAW. A LAW that was passed TODAY.

If they had wanted to prohibit people driving a short distance to exercise they would have said so.

I am not arguing with anyone who says you shouldn't drive from eg Winchester to Bournemouth to go to the beach, but I am arguing with those of you who say you can't drive from your house to another place close by to have a walk.

BigChocFrenzy · 26/03/2020 18:58

"Report it every time. If nothing else, it prevents them harassing people for a few hours as they have to fill in forms and statements and potentially attend a further interview if the IOPC deem it necessary."

Yes, waste police time in an emergency

Hopefully all such form-filling crap has been suspended

BigChocFrenzy · 26/03/2020 19:04

"Report it every time. If nothing else, it prevents them harassing people for a few hours as the"am not arguing with anyone who says you shouldn't drive from eg Winchester to Bournemouth to go to the beach, but I am arguing with those of you who say you can't drive from your house to another place close by to have a walk."

Absolutely ok to argue that here
It is imo sensible to drive to somewhere less crowded
BUT
Just don't argue with the police if they stop or fine you for it

Alsohuman · 26/03/2020 19:06

Just don't argue with the police if they stop or fine you for it

Anyone with half a brain would appeal the fine and they’d win.

shinynewapple2020 · 26/03/2020 19:08

@damnthatanxiety Can I come and stay with you? Your house sounds lovely. Promise I'll stay 2 m away from you!

StormyClouds · 26/03/2020 19:10

@BigChocFrenzy

It's not "form-filling crap", the IOPC an important body that prevents police abusing their powers.

Human rights are even more important in times like this, not less.

EmperorBallpitine · 26/03/2020 19:11

As far as I'm concerned you are all quite privileged to be having this argument. Everyone claiming its draconian is basically like the naughty child who knows what they are doing is wrong, but will argue until they are blue in the face.
Consider this. I have lung cancer, I have to stay in for 12 weeks. With my 3 children. I consider it lucky I can go in the garden. Forgive me if my heart doesn't bleed for you people denied the opportunity to waste police time by driving egregiously to places you'd rather walk than the place you live.
I'm worrying about what will happen if my GP husband dies, as my life is going to be short. Or if I get it (certain painful death) and my thoughts are with the people with lung diseases who don't have outside space and are stuck in quarantine for 12 weeks.
Stop being a dick and stay home.

woodchuck99 · 26/03/2020 19:11

They have done in places like Italy sonwouldnt be suprised if it comes in here. For the majority of people the exercise can be achieved walking round the block or a few goes up and down the street even if everyone would prefer the nice picturesque park.

Easy to say when you are one of the majority. I don't think that everyone should be stopped from walking in a picturesque park just for the sake of it as could potentially happen. Ensuring that parks and open spaces are entirely empty while the streets are crowded with people walking because they're not allowed to drive anywhere is hardly going to reduce the risk of people becoming infected. It's totally nonsensical.

adaline · 26/03/2020 19:11

Anyone with half a brain would appeal the fine and they’d win.

Why would they win? It became law today.

StormyClouds · 26/03/2020 19:13

I think the fact that we already have police deciding to go beyond the law and stop people exercising demonstrates exactly why we cannot trust these people with more powers.

Many are power-hungry and will be loving this opportunity to abuse their powers and order people about.

Just ask the family of Jean Charles de Menezes.

StormyClouds · 26/03/2020 19:15

The law does not prohibit driving elsewhere to exercise or allow police to search shopping bags and decide what they think is essential. Off-licences have been classified as essential shops, for example.

woodchuck99 · 26/03/2020 19:16

I am not arguing with anyone who says you shouldn't drive from eg Winchester to Bournemouth to go to the beach, but I am arguing with those of you who say you can't drive from your house to another place close by to have a walk.

I totally agree. The park near me is huge and there will be fewer people passing each other on the street if some people walk there.

Krisskrosskiss · 26/03/2020 19:20

My daughter has asthma and I wish people WOULD drive short distances in order to go for a walk spread out.. less chance of the virus spreading if everyone keeps away from each other.. if we all just strolled out of our front doors and walked in that street it would be very crowded.. I hope some people do drive to the park for a walk tbh

PickAChew · 26/03/2020 19:26

Anyone who has a garden to sit in should think of those who don't before they break the rules and get it withdrawn for everyone.

Last time I sat in my small suburban garden, I didn't get much of an aerobic workout.

Alsohuman · 26/03/2020 19:26

Precisely Stormy, it’s quite extraordinary that people are praising the police for making it up as they go along and enforcing fictitious laws.

PickAChew · 26/03/2020 19:27

@StormyClouds I'd fashion you a tinfoil hat if I wasn't down to my last few feet of the stuff.

woodchuck99 · 26/03/2020 19:31

I just looked at the drone video the police in Derbyshire did of people in the Peak District. It's totally ridiculous. The people in the video are very far apart and hardly increasing the risk of infection so what is the issue with them being there? I bet they would come into contact with more people if they walked outside their houses .It doesn't bode well that they think this is a good use of police time.

gingersausage · 26/03/2020 19:32

I agree @DCOkeford. It’s terrifying.

What I find amazing is how clever this little virus is. It knows not to infect you when you’re doing your food shopping or at work, and yet if you stand in the middle of an empty field it will come and find you

FeelingCrap54 · 26/03/2020 19:35

I would imagine this is in areas where people may all choose similar areas to walk.

Where I live they are not going to stop people walking their dogs. However if lots of people walk their dogs in the same park/beauty spot then I can see an issue.

In any case isn't this a clear indication that there is no clear guidelines and the police forces are having to interpret it in their own way for their area.