Police are pulling over loads of cars in my local town

[VivaLeBeaver]

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.

My Dps work have given him a permission to travel letter incase he gets stopped, there are police checks in places around us popping up he last few days so I presume they will get closer!

There is also council workers sitting in vans in the local park making sure people are moving and not gathering in groups and not playing on the equipment!

Isnt that ticket from new zealand

No, it's Avon And Somerset Police.

I live in Cornwall and the police in my town are taking this approach and put it on their FB page.

I think we are going to have a lot of flat car battery’s in a few weeks time!

Glad police in your area are doing something about it.

I work in a bank and have a lot of people come in who don’t need to be there. I think if we had more of a police presence it would make them think twice about coming out.

People making unnecessary car journeys are potentially adding to the workload of our 999 services. If you have an accident then all three could be needed. Why add to their work at this time? Good on Avon & Somerset, I say.

I have an email from HR on my phone and my staff ID. However it's very specific about where I'm allowed to go, it's not a blanket "NIW is a key worker and therefore travelling essentially".

I can't find any evidence on Avon and Somerset police website or social media feeds to suggest this is genuine. Every time I see this photo it is the same one with it screwed up in exactly the same way. Someone has too much time on their hands

I would have thought for those in densely populated areas, driving somewhere quiet to exercise would be less risky. There's a big difference between someone deciding to drive miles to a tourist hot spot to exercise, and eg the handful of people driving from the nearest town to use the footpaths here

I'm confused about this too. I'm an HCP, so highly likely already exposed to Covid, so have been driving a mile or so out of our village to walk the dog, to avoid bumping into any elderly neighbours. Is this wrong?

You don’t need to drive somewhere to have a walk.

You may not have to but plenty will. Those whose doors open out directly onto main roads or live in city and town centres.

My sister lives backing onto a small wooded area and apparently police were on the main path in this morning advising that anyone driving down to walk dogs etc should be doing activities within walking distance of their own homes. No fines as far as she could tell, just talking to people and reminding them of what is considered an essential journey. She's just outside London.

I'm not suggesting that every police officer is power-hungry, but a significant minority certainly are. Add them to the proportion who are institutionally racist and the others who aren't the brightest and you have serious potential for abuse.

That is why I would say to everyone- if you have an encounter or interaction with the police that you feel is unfair or inappropriate, report it. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) specifically exists to deal with abuse of police power.

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.

goldpartyhat and everyone else

Stop speculating and Please read the coronavirus act 2020.

Yes it has recieved royal accent

I think it’s safer to drive somewhere isolated to take a family walk. Can’t walk 4 kids down a narrow pavement here and allow 3 metres when passing other people.

You don’t need to drive somewhere to have a walk.

One of the Q&A after a briefly covered this and they actually said you were able to do this.

In some locations, particularly densely populated ones, it is safer in terms of being near people to do so.

They are jnot easy issues particularly as the Government has said at a press conference you can drive to exercise. You can drive to do your allotment etc and the Government has told those abroad to fly home and presumably they are allowed drive from air port to home once they get here. Plenty of people are also still allowed to drive to work and are encouraged to do so to avoid tube but best to carry justification with you at all times and similarly all those people allowed to drive to care for their parents never mind the hundreds of thousands who have just registered to help the NHS and drive to get medicine for neighbours etc - just like school exceptions we are going to find soon there are so many lawful reasons to travel it is going to be very hard to police it. One thing is for cure in 20 years there have never been so many people on our quiet private (but open to the public) road so it presumably is coronavirus breeding ground central out there even though people are trying to stand apart. This is the place they come for their daily walk or run or cycle or even horse ride.

briefing not briefly

You may not have to but plenty will. Those whose doors open out directly onto main roads or live in city and town centres.

What's wrong with walking around a town or city centre for exercise? Especially as they are becoming so quiet now

I can't find any evidence on Avon and Somerset police website or social media feeds to suggest this is genuine. Every time I see this photo it is the same one with it screwed up in exactly the same way. Someone has too much time on their hands

Me neither. I've e-mailed it to A&S police for their attention and comment.

I suspect it's a hoax.

It's all internet and fb...…..mmkay….

The police here have been advising people to stop driving here to walk. It's making it less safe for everyone and they are having to deal with sodding parking dramas because people are acting like idiots

The government announcement on Monday was very straightforward. You are allowed to leave home for essential travel (work that cannot be done from home / food shops / hospital). Exercise is not an essential reason to travel.

You are also allowed to leave home once a day for exercise, but you are not permitted to travel somewhere else for that purpose. This means exercise must be carried out directly from your home - a walk or cycle ride from your front door. If you have to get in your car then you are travelling before you begin your exercise. This is not essential travel and therefore is not permitted.

The crime rate must be pretty near non existent in Avon and Somerset if the police have got time for this.

Walk ride or cycle. Where does it say jump in the car and drive to a local beauty spot?

Our local police have posted Facebook photos stating you can't drive and go for a walk and they are waiting at popular spots that people drive to go for a walk issuing fines

..although if you get your food at a shop on the way then presumably it is allowed. Lots of people cannot access on line shopping currently and have a big family yet shops only let them take enough food for one day ( 3 item restriction etc) so the currently shopping problems means plenty have no choice but to go out once a day to the shops.

@YgritteSnow I disagree- sorry. It’s not talking about going for a ramble and enjoying the country air, it’s about getting outside and stretching your legs. Walking around the block. I’ve lived smack bang in city centres until the last year so I get it’s difficult, but it’s not in the spirit of what a e have been asked to do. If everyone in Manchester City centre drives out to a local nature area there’s going to be some congestion there which defeats the object of what the government is trying to do.

It’s not just people in city centres driving out.

The gov.uk website spells out you can go for an occasional drive but must not get out of your car.