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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:
Thread gallery
7
YangShanPo · 27/03/2020 07:37

God it makes me a bit sick to be living in a police state where we need to carry a letter all of a sudden. I am in favour of the lockdown but this is modern day Britian, most people are staying in, or doing their bit as key workers or helping the vulnerable. Yes get the police to sort out the idiots but I hope we can keep it friendly for the most part.

stophuggingme · 27/03/2020 07:44

Are these magic money tree police then?
The numbers have been cut to the bone so how will they actually perform this to the level and scale required to be impactful?
Hmm

VivaLeBeaver · 27/03/2020 07:52

Jesus @BiBiBirdie that’s awful. Overall I like the police, I’ve never had a problem with them. Lots of my family were in the police, i was a cadet for 2 years. But sadly some of them are jumped up bullies, a minority....but they give the others a bad name.

OP posts:
PinkSpring · 27/03/2020 08:04

I think it's ridiculous and some of the police are going to abuse this "power".

If I need to go out for food, I am going out. If I have to drive to go get it (as one local shops are pretty empty), I will bloody well do it. If I need to drive around several shops to find formula for my baby as I am struggling to find it, yeah - I am going to do it.

If I want to drive ten minutes to a woodland for a walk, also going to be doing that - far less people and risk of infection and within the "rules"

Parker231 · 27/03/2020 08:10

Unfortunately the minority breaching the new regulations make it even more difficult for those complying. The quicker the police clamp down on idiots still gathering in groups, the better and the rate of spread of the virus can slow down.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 27/03/2020 08:23

As a household we're doing our best to stay within the rules while also helping an elderly friend and keeping the dogs exercised (sometimes driving a mile and a half to avoid busy paths and reduce the risk of contact) so they don't go demented and disturb the neighbours. The sanctimonious on MN and FB seem to be doing their best to make me feel as guilty as possible for doing so, even though I'm avoiding local beauty spots where people might be likely to gather.

wanderings · 27/03/2020 08:23

Are these magic money tree police then?
The numbers have been cut to the bone so how will they actually perform this to the level and scale required to be impactful?

This is what I want to know. The baying mob don't have much to say on this. Hmm

VivaLeBeaver · 27/03/2020 08:30

I suspect the idea is they only need to do it a bit, get people talking about it, get it on social media, random pop up ones so you never know where they’ll be. People will have a disproportionate idea of how likely they are to be stopped and then they will stop themselves?

OP posts:
FloofenHoofen · 27/03/2020 10:40

Funny that, that ticket looks exactly like the one someone posted up on my local Facebook with a local town name on. 🤔

Xenia · 27/03/2020 11:03

The new regulations are out
I think we need a bit more publicity for the new law in England - Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/made

Eg it says you CAN move house if reasonably necessary. Press reports seem to be getting that wrong.

You CAN travel to take exercise.

You CAN travel for work in most cases (I think the regulations should be corrected to include travel at work too so the emergency plumber can drive between houses as I am not sure if I can drive to the post box as I do every day for essential work purposes).

Restrictions on movement 6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a reasonable excuse includes the need—
(a)to obtain basic necessities, including food and medical supplies for those in the same household (including any pets or animals in the household) or for vulnerable persons and supplies for the essential upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household, or the household of a vulnerable person, or to obtain money, including from any business listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2;

(b)to take exercise either alone or with other members of their household;

(c)to seek medical assistance, including to access any of the services referred to in paragraph 37 or 38 of Schedule 2;

(d)to provide care or assistance, including relevant personal care within the meaning of paragraph 7(3B) of Schedule 4 to the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Groups Act 2006(1), to a vulnerable person, or to provide emergency assistance;

(e)to donate blood;

(f)to travel for the purposes of work or to provide voluntary or charitable services, where it is not reasonably possible for that person to work, or to provide those services, from the place where they are living;

(g)to attend a funeral of— (i)a member of the person’s household, (ii)a close family member, or (iii)if no-one within sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii) are attending, a friend;

(h)to fulfil a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings;

(i)to access critical public services, including— (i)childcare or educational facilities (where these are still available to a child in relation to whom that person is the parent, or has parental responsibility for, or care of the child); (ii)social services; (iii)services provided by the Department of Work and Pensions; (iv)services provided to victims (such as victims of crime);

(j)in relation to children who do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents, to continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children, and for the purposes of this paragraph, “parent” includes a person who is not a parent of the child, but who has parental responsibility for, or who has care of, the child; (k)in the case of a minister of religion or worship leader, to go to their place of worship;

(l)to move house where reasonably necessary;

(m)to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the place where a person is living includes the premises where they live together with any garden, yard, passage, stair, garage, outhouse or other appurtenance of such premises.

(4) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any person who is homeless"

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6/made

StormyClouds · 27/03/2020 12:15

That is a disgrace @BiBiBirdie- sorry you had to do through that. I think the past few days have shown that the police just cannot be trusted with these new powers. Many are revelling in the chance to bully people and abuse their powers.

I would say again to you and everyone else who falls victim to this- report every time to your MP and to the Independent Office for Police Conduct www.policeconduct.gov.uk/.

They can investigate and take action to stop other people being bullied- if nothing else if gets some of them off the streets for a few hours as they have to fill in statements etc. So it should save a few more people from being harassed.

Walkingtohealth · 27/03/2020 12:29

BiBiBirdie you need to report this as it's an abuse of power.

Most officers are not going to be this stupid (one hopes).

I broadly welcome them stopping lots of people heading the beach etc under the guise of dog walking or daily exercise) I don't think going to get milk comes under the new powers.

You needed it and we're doing nothing wrong .

TheOrigBrave · 27/03/2020 12:45

You CAN travel to take exercise.

Where does it say that?

Parker231 · 27/03/2020 12:48

@StormyClouds - you obviously have a problem with the police. I’m sure there are some people working in the police who shouldn’t be there but the majority continue to do an excellent job, particularly now.

What is your suggestion for ensuring people stick to the new regulations?

BiBiBirdie · 27/03/2020 12:57

I think I'm just of the mindset that if I complain now it's going to take someone's time up.
I've been out again for a walk round the block today and had no drama. The streets are dead so the message here is getting across.
But we do all need to at least walk round the block for 5 minutes for our mental health, elsewise imagine what could happen if people have shirt fuses and struggle with MH.

adaline · 27/03/2020 13:01

You CAN travel to take exercise.

This has been clarified in the last couple of days and no, you can't. You have to exercise from your home.

StormyClouds · 27/03/2020 13:26

@Parker231

I don't have any issue with the police- I've never had any interaction with them in my life. However, as a solicitor, I am well aware of the fact that many police officers fall into a number of negative categories: 1. power-hungry, 2. racist or 3. not very bright.

When you then give them broad discretionary powers, there is huge potential for abuse- as the example just up the thread demonstrates. We all have to take steps to ensure the police do not get away with it. Hopefully, this will itself stop them mistreating groups who have less of a voice.

YgritteSnow · 27/03/2020 13:35

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

I live in a flat. Yesterday I ran 4 km up and down the hallway. I wish I had a small suburban garden.

Parker231 · 27/03/2020 13:51

@StormyClouds - your experience with the police is very different from mine. I’m totally supportive of them keeping us safe in the impossible times we are now living through. If their actions mean that less people become ill, it’s for the best. I would imagine if the minority continue to breach the regulations, even tighter controls will be put in place.

Pigflewpast · 27/03/2020 13:57

where has it been clarified that you can’t travel to exercise? I keep asking this and no one can show me? On Jeremy Vine just now whoever he was interviewing ( I missed the start but assume it was someone official as they were answering questions) said don’t travel 20 miles to exercise but use sense as to where is quiet.

Walkingtohealth · 27/03/2020 14:16

I’d be interested to see which category any police officers here put themselves into according to StormyClouds

Come on .....are you power hungry, racist or not very bright? I think we need to know. Hmm

Xenia · 27/03/2020 14:33

In my view the regulations allow you to travel to take exercise. However perhaps amendments to them are on the way.

Miljea · 27/03/2020 14:41

BiBiBirdie That's appalling.

I am perhaps as much concerned by the number of MNetters actively falling over themselves to unquestioningly give away their liberty.

I imagine the likes of Cummings is weeing himself with delight upon seeing how quickly people become vigilantes for imaginary laws, let alone real ones! How happily people allow the police to abuse their powers.

It still does not state anywhere in law that you cannot drive a short distance to go and get some exercise. So the OP's photo is of a police force acting outside the law and thus should be challenged.

Yes, people are dying but when driving a short distance to get away from other people to reduce that dying- is deemed illegal, we have a problem.

And I too consider the vilification of those people atop a mountain to be bullying tactics.

adaline · 27/03/2020 14:50

where has it been clarified that you can’t travel to exercise?

From our local police Facebook page:

Daily exercise should not include travelling to a different area than that in which you live. Start your walk, cycle or run from your home

Police are pulling over loads of cars in my local town
Ginfordinner · 27/03/2020 14:54

You CAN travel to take exercise. This has been clarified in the last couple of days and no, you can't. You have to exercise from your home.

Unfortunately, people still aren’t heeding this advice. On my way back from the supermarket this morning, I drove through some woods – Greno Woods for anyone who knows Sheffield. They aren’t near anywhere, and the car park was full of cars, presumably because the drivers wanted somewhere nice to walk.

However, as a solicitor, I am well aware of the fact that many police officers fall into a number of negative categories

That explains a lot StormyClouds. In your line of work you are bound to come across the worse side of society. In my experience, and in most people’s, most police officers are not thick, power hungry, racist bullies. Yes, some are, as are some people in all other walks of life. I’m sure there are some racist bullying solicitors. But you still come across as bolshie and paranoid. I think you are being unfair to tar all police officers with the same brush.

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