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Original poster

Official Police Guidance on reasonable reasons to be away from your home during 'lockdown'. England only.

82 replies

NevilleGoddard · 15/04/2020 13:43

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/What-constitutes-a-reasonable-excuse.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiH6u3sturoAhWhmFwKHWaSCUcQFjAAegQIBRAC&usg=AOvVaw2TGvBnKDHW7_Xf1DzKgYnT" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/What-constitutes-a-reasonable-excuse.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiH6u3sturoAhWhmFwKHWaSCUcQFjAAegQIBRAC&usg=AOvVaw2TGvBnKDHW7_Xf1DzKgYnT

Interesting reading.

Newspaper/pint of milk/loaf of bread as single items - 'likely reasonable'.

Buying non-essentials/luxuries with other shopping - same.

Picking up food from a friend - same.

Leaving home to go to another house for a few days because of arguments in household-same

Buying just non-essentials/luxuries if already out of the house for good reason - same.

Resting or stopping to eat on a long walk - same.

Travel to exercise - same. And confirms travel to exercise is not unlawful.

OP posts:
Mammyloveswine · 15/04/2020 13:43

Link doesn't work?

Original poster
NevilleGoddard · 15/04/2020 13:59

I don't know why and it won't let me attach it as a PDF.

Can anyone help? If you Google 'what constitutes a reasonable excuse to leave the place of residence - College of Policing'
Its there.

OP posts:
Abraid2 · 15/04/2020 14:00

Works for me.

Mammyloveswine · 15/04/2020 14:01

It says "invalid URL" when I click on it!

FlibbertyGiblets · 15/04/2020 14:05

Link works for me. Thank you

Original poster
NevilleGoddard · 15/04/2020 14:13

Maybe it's just you Mammy?

Exercising more than once a day - also likely reasonable.

And walking in countryside.

OP posts:
Binglebong · 15/04/2020 14:13

Thank you. Saved this on my phone ready for tomorrow's walk.

Binglebong · 15/04/2020 14:14

Mammy it may download automatically instead of taking you to a page.

TopShelf · 15/04/2020 14:15

Some on here are going to be bitterly disappointed it isn't much, much more stringent. Grin

LilacTree1 · 15/04/2020 14:17

Thank you for this OP

I hope they issue something for public transport

Emcont · 15/04/2020 14:18

So we can drive for exercise?

Original poster
NevilleGoddard · 15/04/2020 14:21

Emcont - if its a short distance and you spend much more time walking/exercising than driving. But it also clarifies it is NOT unlawful to travel to exercise.

OP posts:
Abraid2 · 15/04/2020 17:35

Some on here are going to be bitterly disappointed it isn't much, much more stringent

I know! I hat happened to permitted firing squads?

cologne4711 · 15/04/2020 17:53

Some police are going to be disappointed, too. Where's the fun in sensible, common sense, guidance?

PicsInRed · 15/04/2020 18:20

This is invaluable OP, thank you.

I especially draw attention to the 2nd to last example - moving to a friend's for a couple of days to cool off after arguments - likely reasonable. That is potentially life saving.

Thank you again OP, and thank you to the College of Policing for such clear and reasonable advice.

FliesandPies · 15/04/2020 18:26

Excellent! Thanks for that, great to see common sense breaking out. I hope they will circulate this widely and get it promoted in the media

Original poster
NevilleGoddard · 15/04/2020 18:29

@PicsInRed

That's why I posted.

Not so much for the MN you can't sit down on a bench or buy the kids an ice cream from the shop on the way back from your walk crowd..

But more the people struggling livinf in lockdown with DPs/parents who think they can't get away for a few days to reset (if there's somewhere to go obviously) or go somewhere else for the rest of lockdown.

Or parents of teen/adult children who think they can't let them go to another parent/family member as 'no mixing households' or think they can't have their DC home who is having a shitty time in shared accomodation or with their DP and want to come home for the rest of lockdown (loads of threads recently telling OPs they can't do that).

OP posts:
FliesandPies · 15/04/2020 18:31

I particularly hope they will ensure it's circulated to ALL Police forces to ensure they apply the rules reasonably and stop persecuting people for having a sandwich on a country walk.

FliesandPies · 15/04/2020 18:32

think they can't have their DC home who is having a shitty time in shared accomodation

I certainly assumed that was banned under the regs

Anon3742577 · 15/04/2020 18:39

Thanks for posting this.

Original poster
NevilleGoddard · 15/04/2020 19:02

@FliesandPies

It has been distributed to all Police Forces in England.

Whether they read the email or not is a different matter but this is the official line.

OP posts:
PhilCornwall1 · 15/04/2020 19:08

@NevilleGoddard The MN Lockdown Police are going to be making dolls of you and sticking pins in it now!! Grin

As far as they are concerned even farting isn't essential!!

Original poster
NevilleGoddard · 15/04/2020 19:38

I know Phil but it is SO important for people to know.

A lot of people are quoting 'rules' that just don't exist.

Sometimes from lack of understanding or but often as an excuse to abuse others and demonstrate their lack of understanding of the lives of anyone different to them and a marked lack of compassion for others

Which in normal circumstances might be challenged, but not now by a lot of posters.

So they seem to take free reign and hopefully these official guidelines will help.

OP posts:
PhilCornwall1 · 15/04/2020 19:44

@NevilleGoddard You are so right, people do need to know, especially as it looking like it will be extended tomorrow.