While driving to exercise might be unwise it is not prohibited by emergency legislation--new guidance for police.

[BreathlessCommotion]

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/mar/30/uk-police-guidelines-coronavirus-lockdown-enforcement-powers-following-criticism-lord-sumption?

Much needed.

I do wonder how far we are willing to go. Millions of people throughout the centuries have fought and died for our freedoms. Are we willing to loan these freedoms back simply because we are told to by whoever happens to be in charge?

We're not there yet, but at some point people will push back.

I have to admit it is alarming to see that when given an inch the police try to grab a mile
(and try to grab it very quickly😳)

Agreed. But I think Boris is at fault too for hugely over simplifying the message. It's clear from the regulations that there is quite a sweep of exemptions but none of that was made clear in his "four reasons" announcement.

Yes, let’s all stand on our rights to indulge our selfish wishes when we could help the country get through this faster and more safely with a little bit of self-denial.

Y’know, like adults, not infants.

"The source of confusion for frontline officers appears to be a gap between what the emergency legislation actually orders and what the government has said it wants people to do.

In his address announcing the lockdown last Monday, Boris Johnson made reference to only exercising once a day – a limitation that is not set out in the law."

That's where the problem lies
The govt giving "advice" has been taken as law, because the govt gave confused messages.

If the govt decide this this advice must be compulsory, then they have to make it a law

Otherwise, tell the police that although they prefer people to do or not do certain things,
there is no legal compulsion or sanction

Potential lawsuits against the police ...come the big reckoning?

There is a difference between what we should do and what we legally can or cannot do. The police only have the right to enforce the latter, they can advise the former but anything else is a massive overstep that has the potential to have a far reaching impact on civil rights.

No, it’s not prohibited (yet) but I live in a farming community. Farmers can’t wash their hands while out checking stock. The gates you use will be touched by them. The stiles you use will be touched by them. Their sheep may be in lamb and at risk of losing their lambs when you and your dogs run over their land. This is their livelihood. And our food chain at the most basic level.

If on public paths, you slip and break your ankle, who are you expecting to rescue you?

I’ve seen a massive influx of people ‘driving to get exercise’. I’m not saying everyone is so stupid, but so many seem to think the countryside is a playground atm.

Sick farmers=no fruit, veg, or meat supply. Your choice.

I'm not driving to exercise. That was one example. I have however been reprimanded for sometimes (not every day) taking my dog for a walk (somewhere where there are no people, no gates, no stiles) and then later going for a walk or run on my own to help my mental health.

This according to some on here is against the rules full stop. One poster said that we should do what the police say, even if they are wrong. That is terrifying.

I respect the lockdown, I have high risk family. I am not putting people at risk. I am applying critical thinking and risk assessment.

The police have no remit whatsoever to act on what they think a politician (or anyone else) may or may not have said so blaming Boris for being ‘unclear’ in a press statement is absolutely no excuse. The police are supposed to uphold the law. It’s one of the very cornerstones of democracy. The law is clear .... it might not match the preferences or advice of our prime minister but that is entirely irrelevant. The police aren’t paid to act on what a politician thinks/wants or even says .... they are here to enforce the law. If they don’t understand the law, then their are mechanisms for them to refer to in order to get clarity. It is never acceptable for individual police chiefs to interpret laws as they wish and do what they like. They are not law makers.

Farmers can’t wash their hands while out checking stock.

Why not? I can wash my hands while out walking (hand sanitizer) and when I return to my vehicle (soap & a bottle of water). If I can't, I don't touch my face. Why are farmers any different?

The gates you use will be touched by them. The stiles you use will be touched by them.

Yes, in exactly the same way that the shop door you use has been touched by others. The shopping trolley you use has been touched by others.

The British public seem unable to follow either the letter of the law or the spirit of it.

I live at the seaside and our weekends are plagued by people wanting to drive here to walk on the beach but overcrowding the area.

People seem to be unable to behave as responsible adults despite demanding their privileges

Their sheep may be in lamb and at risk of losing their lambs when you and your dogs run over their land

Yes absolutely and this has always been the case - virus or no virus. I never let my dogs run over sheep fields, why is it any different now?

Agree much needed. The police are massively overstepping. I thought today in passing that we are getting a little taste of what it feels like to live in a totalitarian state and had a mini momentary panic that it would carry on after the lockdown once the authorities got a taste for it! It made me feel glad that we live in a free state where we can go about our business and do pretty much whatever we want (in normal times). Something to be very grateful for, treasured and protected.

Maybe Lord Sumpter, Guardian journalists etc, should be looking further afield at Hungary, Poland and Russia, before talking about the UK drifting into a police state.

The vast majority of people support temporary curbs on movements to achieve one specific aim. To halt the spread of COVID-19. To protect loved ones or themselves.

All that is asked of people is to be reasonable and responsible, the police, dog walkers and runners alike. It is built into the emergency legislation that it is for a set period and is regularly reviewed.

Yes, guidelines are helpful. Like a lot of legislation, what is meant is not always achieved.

However, all this criticism just for the sake of it (I'm looking at you Channel Four, The Guardian and Emily Maitless from Newsnight) is very wearing.

We are living in completely extraordinary times. There is no existing template to work from. Most of us are trying to muddle through. I am certainly glad to be going through this in the UK rather than be in other countries, as demonstrated by the thousands of people abroad desparately trying to get flights back to the UK!

I agree. But on here people are constantly berating people who are following the legislation, and using common sense.

There's always a farmer on these threads, frothing about townies daring to use the legally mandated system of footpaths and bridleways as they are entitled to do. It's thinly veiled (and highly distasteful) opportunism - as if we didn't know that you've ALWAYS wanted to stop people exercising that right. Well - you can't. They're legal rights of way and we're going to continue to use them.

I don't have a car, by the way. I walk to the countryside to exercise.

Is it essential? If not, then don't do it?

Isn't that the easiest message of all? If it's police giving that woman grief for painting chalk lines then I get it, way OTT, but asking people not to be selfish and drive about like it's a bank holiday weekend really isn't a lot to ask. This sucks, I get it, but the more people constantly look for loopholes to justify doing what they want, the longer we'll all be cooped up inside and the more stringent the restrictions will become.

Would I love a wander at the beach or in the hills? God yes. Damn straight I would, wouldn't everyone? If I decide it's my right then why expect anyone else not to do it? Why expect everyone else not to do it?

Cracking news! The public don't want us to get involved in non-crime matters! No more calling us for custody disputes, civil disputes and matters of 'logging it on 101'. Very happy!

I do wonder how far we are willing to go.

Going by some posts on here much too far.

From taking rights away from the stupid and punishing the delinquents to actually asking for the army on the streets and martial law.

We're being asked to not drive to places for exercise, is that honestly such a huge thing? They're hardly demanding we sacrifice our first born. This "police state" chat is so frustrating. It's for everyone's benefit, they're not just trying to piss you off or stop you having fun.

Cars on roads means accidents. Unnecessary additional pressure on emergency services. People in petrol stations. People taking virus from one area to another. People using shared public facilities. Loads of things. If any significant number of people start doing that regularly what's the point in doing a lockdown?

@bettybeans Please stop talking sense. You are detracting from a thread where people can absolve themselves of their selfish actions.

@bettybeans it's not about being hard and I bet a lot of people commenting here won't anyways. I can't even drive ffs.

But don't you find it even a little bit worrying or questionable that police are using powers to enforce a law that doesn't exist? That instead of following the current law they are using their own interpretation/Boris's wishes?

It may all be necessary, it might even become law in a few days or a week. That's not the issue. But doesn't the principle of it bother you even a little bit?