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.

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

It doesn't matter if they're are densely populated at the moment

There is a vastly reduced city/town workforce, office staff, shop staff etc. There is plenty of space

Not sure why people assume city/town centres are exactly like they were a month ago on a Saturday afternoon

It’s to prevent idiots driving to the beach or touristy areas and add huge numbers of additional people. I saw some photos of the police turning back queues of cars in the Peak District. Sounds a good idea to me to ensure people follow the new rules. Unfortunately the minority of people make it difficult for the majority trying to it the safe way.

@StormyClouds - thepolice have enough to do, particularly at the moment, without people creating additional paperwork for them.

They're tasering people in Italy who defy the rules. Just for defiance and walking along the street.
Think yourself lucky.

Whoa whoa whoa! I am all for following the rules but I will not 'think myself lucky' that our police are not tasering people on the streets for reasons outside of the four valid ones.

Policing by consent is a fine principle and I'd rather hope we hang onto it.

@Xenia while tending an allotment requires exertion, the primary reason for most people to hold an allotment is the production of food. Allotments need maintaining, so allotment tending is essential agricultural work. I haven't seen an announcement saying that people are allowed to drive to other locations for exercise. Quite the opposite. Exercise was not listed among the permitted reasons for essential travel.

@CrapTVAddict

It's certainly interesting how the police are always demanding more resources and are nowhere to be seen if you report a burglary or theft, but suddenly have the manpower available to patrol walking spots to issue fines for people who are breaking no law and putting no-one at risk.

It may even be suggested they are simply interested in catching easy targets and getting their income from fines up...

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

Really ?

There's never enough rumours at a time like this are there ?

@Parker231

They clearly don't have enough to do if they are inspecting people's shopping bags and fining people for going for a walk.

The more of them off the streets filling in paperwork the better as far as I'm concerned.

From our local police website:

We are all in this together, so please listen to your local officers, they are leaving their own loved ones night and day to keep you safe.

They ask very little of you, please support us in supporting the NHS by keeping your distance and everyone safe.

Police were at our local petrol station this morning watching people.
There are always a few numptys who don't know what six feet apart means. Including one pregnant lady.

....the problem in towns and city centres isnt a lack of walking space. It's the number of cars on the roads that impede the emergency services and trucks delivering food and other vital goods to hospitals

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

Same here

Article in our local paper this morning saying one of the areas parks was busier than a weekend yesterday. The icecream man was even there. This is the problem, everyone wants to drive out to the local beauty spots to get some exercise add to that people treating this like an extended bank holiday and you see social distancing go out the window.

I suspect this will die off at the weekend when the weather turns again. But even so, whilst technically yes you can drive to go for a walk I suspect we may see some tightening up of the rules whereby this is expressly prohibited.

The roads are very very quiet. My son drives a grocery delivery van for a living and says it is quiet every day now and much easier to drive at work. The problem on my usually quiet road is everyone is choosing it for their daily walk as it is pretty lovely and few cars, a few horses etc but masses of people, children etc. They are trying to stay apart but it is not always that easy.

@StormyClouds - people should be fined if they are breaking the regulations. The lockdown is not easy for anyone but the quicker everyone stays at home, the sooner the virus will be brought under control and we can go about our usual lives. Don’t make things worse by adding to the work of emergency services.

@StormyClouds the police dont keep the money from fines. Any other misinformation you'd like to spread on this thread...?

I'm also in Avon & Somerset, big police presence in our park, yesterday saw 2 police on horses and a car patrolling in the park.

As I passed the police on horses I overheard them comment 'sitting on a bench is not exercising". Yes, I get that bit also some people might need to stop to rest. there are a few disabled and older people out.

I'm in London. It's perfectly possible to go for a walk here. It's not as pretty as driving to the woods or a park but it's perfectly doable. People are stepping aside and being respectful and the streets are quieter than normal.

People are just making excuses to justify why they need to drive somewhere else.

Q: Can I drive somewhere to exercise?

A: No. The Government is advising "to exercise locally" and that "no non-essential travel should be made".

See this useful Q&A in the Telegraph

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/03/26/can-walk-dog-exercise-lockdown/

Wateriswide Yes really but thanks for implying I make up rumours.
Check out GMP Tameside north and Tameside south Facebook pages where there are pictures of them at a park 'challenging people'
I will try and find the post where it states a popular walking post is attended by police .

I don't understand why driving in your car, so in a contained space, with no contact with anyone else other than household members and driving to a secluded area, could be seen as anything other than responsible.

We have two dogs, one who needs A LOT of exercise and there's nowhere round here where she can get what she needs. The one space we do have has got too many people around doing the same thing, so we get in the car and drive to a (usually) completely isolated field.

This is not irresponsible behaviour. We're doing what we're doing to be responsible

My friend's front door opens out onto the north circular. She only has a communal garden. She drives to a reservoir ten minutes away with her children and dogs at 7 am each morning. I cannot judge her for it.

*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.*

Yup, good advice. Middle of a pandemic. Let's tie up an essential force carrying out form-filling.

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

Exactly! Not sure why people are thinking they need to make non-essential car journeys to go for a walk. And the fewer cars on the streets, the safer it is for everyone to walk/run/cycle in their own neighbourhood.

🙄

If the police are stopping people, I hope they are staying 2m away. I would be scared if I was stopped by the police that someone would come up to my window and poke their head in in the way they are used to - or at least come close to the driver window.

I think if I was pulled over I would leap out of my car like a gazelle and back away from them as I'd be frightened they would get too close.