“Covid marshals to be introduced”

[Funkypolar]

To enforce social distancing.

No doubt they will find many volunteers on Mumsnet!

@mrsnorrismeow

My father came here as a political refugees in the seventies, having been tortured and imprisoned under a totalitarian regime. It started with small things like curfews "for people's own good".

People sneering about it being "spoiled" to compare shit like this to the gestapo, do you have experience living in such regimes? Because they start innocently enough.

I'm happy to wear a mask, to SD from strangers, to avoid large gatherings. But telling me I can't be in a group of seven, in my own home? Get fucked. I'll gladly pay the fine.

Well said.

Im very interested in this narrative emerging that new measures have only become necessary because old ones haven't been followed. I'm not aware of any evidence that this is the case, but it is certainly a useful narrative in a lot of ways. It supports a creeping spiral of restrictions.

Me too. Its now accepted by many that this is the case. All over England. Even in areas with very few cases. Even though cases started dropping before lockdown.

And so more restrictions creep in.

I don't want to live in a police state thank you and that's the way this is heading

It is going to be a couple of graduates in high viz vests!! Jeez. Some people love a bit of drama!

@MiniTheMinx

Thanks for your frightening analysis. I will read this later.

There have been so many people on mumsnet sneering at others for wanting to follow the rules to make us all safer, and calling us hysterical for being worried about the virus

I can still think critically, and believe that the state can and probably will use Covid as the pretext to justify greater control, whilst also following all reasonable guidance because I acknowledge the very real risk of Covid to mine and your health. I have followed every 'rule' and continue to do so.

I am though critical of this government. I won't be swayed by people who tell me I'm immoral for questioning the illogical advice of this shitshow of government. The reason the guidance doesn't stand up to scrutiny is because it has so very little to do with any moral stance on protecting human health. If it did then there would be evidence based decisions around SD. Instead apparently its almost impossible to catch covid in a fairy dusted school in a bubble of 300. But if you dare to hug your mum you'll kill her. So any gathering of more than 6 people will lead to transmission, unless its an organised activity of more and its covid secure. What exactly does covid secure mean? Covid is a virus and follows all known laws in regards to its transmission, but it doesn't because its apparently the only known virus that can not be transmitted by children. Except children need to be in a bubble and must not hug your mum! You are safe at work in an air conditioned office with more than 6 people less than 2m apart but you can't sit in the open air with more than 6 people of your choosing even if you are more than 1m apart? you can't stand at a bar surrounded by people even with a face mask, but you can stand on a packed tube like sardines with a face mask. You can get your hair done but you can't see your GP You can rock up at A and E but you can't see your GP. Are GPS especially vulnerable group? protected species? or are we just held hostage to a managed down state of diminished expectation so that the privateers and pirates we call leaders can say "well we tried to protect the NHS" but now you the people say "its not fit for purpose"

Nah, I will follow all reasonable guidance to protect my health and yours, but I won't blindly accept that the infringements on civil liberties is just about public health. Its more than that, covid will be used as the pretext for greater state control over social and family life.

@Mimishimi

This is what my family look like. Long line of English gypsies (Wells). What do you think our chances of surviving a Gestapo state are?

How do you make the leap from a few marshals - in reality, a couple of tubby retired people in high-vis - to your gypsy family being rounded up?

@BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze

I don't think that's too much to ask, under the circumstances, even for people with PTSD due to rape/DV or a facial nerve condition. Or if they're not prepared to do that, I want them to be prepared to put up with the people bitching at them and, inevitably, these covid marshals hassling them

From Nestme's post earlier in this thread.

So yes, some people clearly do think that covid marshals should be able to hassle rape survivors (who they'd also like to be forced to divulge their trauma in order to get a lanyard).

For people like Nestme a gentle nudge to remind people to leave their details for t&t wouldn't be enough - humiliating people (let's face it, usually women) is the way to go. And I fear that many who applaud the idea of Covid marshals would agree.

mini

If indeed you do not agree with the new measures, and clearly you are feeling very concerned about state interference, perhaps shaping public thought/altering perception.

What would you do given we are facing a second wave - with reasonable worst case scenario seeing the death of 85,000 people?

I come at this from a legal perspective, have you considered the legal position of the government in doing absolutely nothing to prevent a huge loss of life? Do you feel that there should be no duty of care to the people of this country?
We should sit back and allow everyone to decide themselves what they feel is appropriate regardless of what happens?

If we don't enforce restrictions by law we will see huge loss of life this winter, is a short and brief restriction on your civil liberties more important than the lives of others/your own family/even your own life possibly?

You will be hard pressed to find someone who cares more about freedom and democracy than I do, but I welcome any measures that will save lives. Genuinely feel that people have forgotten just how bad things actually were in the peak, and things could be much worse in the winter.

I think getting too worried about these marshals is putting a LOT of faith in the government’s ability to implement this effectively. Im willing to be proven wrong but remember at the start of lockdown when everyone was saying there would be drones and the army out on the street ? Or halfway through lockdown when everyone was saying we would be tracked by a contact tracing app that never really materialised properly.
It’ll be a failure as always, not that I’m complaining as I don’t particularly enjoy the idea of it either

The covid marshalls in our local south Aussie supermarket are literally just for show and they just wear the vest, given how many times it's changed hands, its like they draw straws at start of shift for it

Does anyone have a link to the leaked sage report with the 85000 figure? Not the news articles reporting it but the original document?

[quote PennyDreadfuI]@BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze

I don't think that's too much to ask, under the circumstances, even for people with PTSD due to rape/DV or a facial nerve condition. Or if they're not prepared to do that, I want them to be prepared to put up with the people bitching at them and, inevitably, these covid marshals hassling them

From Nestme's post earlier in this thread.

So yes, some people clearly do think that covid marshals should be able to hassle rape survivors (who they'd also like to be forced to divulge their trauma in order to get a lanyard).

For people like Nestme a gentle nudge to remind people to leave their details for t&t wouldn't be enough - humiliating people (let's face it, usually women) is the way to go. And I fear that many who applaud the idea of Covid marshals would agree.[/quote]
Absolutely

According to This Morning they will earn up to £30k, isn’t that more than some police earn, but will have to call police to issue fines. Isn’t that similar to the PCSOs

No doubt the stupid and selfish people are the ones now complaining about the Marshall’s, not realising that their actions have created the jobs. Quite funny really

Bollocks they are

I don't know what the problem is. The government have a great track record of creating and implementing prompt, effective and robust systems, with proper checks and balances, to get us through this pandemic. For example, the track and trace system.

And this is a democratically elected government who respects the rule of law. They would never, ever, for example, even contemplate breaking international law.

There will be many on Mumsnet having multiple orgasms at the introduction of covid Marshalls!
You know the ones, holyier than thou and brandishing anyone who's set foot outside the front door as selfish

I think we should all apply. We more than likely will be paid for doing absolutely sod all. Look at Track n Trace being paid to move their mouse every 15 mins.

No doubt the stupid and selfish people are the ones now complaining about the Marshall’s, not realising that their actions have created the jobs. Quite funny really.

Not necessarily. I've been following the rules (the real ones, not the MN version) up until now and yes, I will complain about the marshals.

There have been so many people on mumsnet sneering at others for wanting to follow the rules to make us all safer, and calling us hysterical for being worried about the virus.

Have you seen some of the ridiculous posts over the last months? People being told they shouldn't be buying milk as it's not essential, I was told I shouldn't leave the house as I cough, posters complaining about neighbours leaving the house for too long or too often. Oh and the classic the other day where a poster wanted to know what they should do about their neighbours as they hear them coughing!

None of this is anything to do with keeping anyone safer, it's ridiculous overreaction and, yes, it is hyseterical.

@SnowsInWater

Pubs and restaurants here in Sydney have to have a Covid Marshall, it works well. They make sure everyone scans the QR code or uses whatever sign in system they are using, ensure social distancing (with humour), help other staff clean tables between sittings. Not sure why it is seen as such a big deal - anything that means I can go out occasionally and feel safe is good for me.

But here, in the UK, they will fuck it up.

The contract will be given to Serco. Those they recruit, sadly, will include people on petty power trips, those who couldn't become traffic wardens or -what were those pseudo-police called? PSOCs or something? That isn't 'bashing people on minimum wage', incidentally.

Anyway, it will all end up being a monumental, expensive fuck up. Of that we can be sure.

But, a small aside, didn't Melbourne kick off because the 'security guards' employed to ensure The Rules were followed at the social housing blocks transpire to have had 5 minutes training? Genuinely?

I suspect they will wear brown shirts

@MiniTheMinx

There have been so many people on mumsnet sneering at others for wanting to follow the rules to make us all safer, and calling us hysterical for being worried about the virus

I can still think critically, and believe that the state can and probably will use Covid as the pretext to justify greater control, whilst also following all reasonable guidance because I acknowledge the very real risk of Covid to mine and your health. I have followed every 'rule' and continue to do so.

I am though critical of this government. I won't be swayed by people who tell me I'm immoral for questioning the illogical advice of this shitshow of government. The reason the guidance doesn't stand up to scrutiny is because it has so very little to do with any moral stance on protecting human health. If it did then there would be evidence based decisions around SD. Instead apparently its almost impossible to catch covid in a fairy dusted school in a bubble of 300. But if you dare to hug your mum you'll kill her. So any gathering of more than 6 people will lead to transmission, unless its an organised activity of more and its covid secure. What exactly does covid secure mean? Covid is a virus and follows all known laws in regards to its transmission, but it doesn't because its apparently the only known virus that can not be transmitted by children. Except children need to be in a bubble and must not hug your mum! You are safe at work in an air conditioned office with more than 6 people less than 2m apart but you can't sit in the open air with more than 6 people of your choosing even if you are more than 1m apart? you can't stand at a bar surrounded by people even with a face mask, but you can stand on a packed tube like sardines with a face mask. You can get your hair done but you can't see your GP You can rock up at A and E but you can't see your GP. Are GPS especially vulnerable group? protected species? or are we just held hostage to a managed down state of diminished expectation so that the privateers and pirates we call leaders can say "well we tried to protect the NHS" but now you the people say "its not fit for purpose"

Nah, I will follow all reasonable guidance to protect my health and yours, but I won't blindly accept that the infringements on civil liberties is just about public health. Its more than that, covid will be used as the pretext for greater state control over social and family life.

Indeed.

Yep the one about hearing the neighbour cough through the walls was a classic 😂 there will be cough police next, signing up all neighbours to listen to next door 🙄

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

No doubt the stupid and selfish people are the ones now complaining about the Marshall’s, not realising that their actions have created the jobs. Quite funny really.

Not necessarily. I've been following the rules (the real ones, not the MN version) up until now and yes, I will complain about the marshals.

There have been so many people on mumsnet sneering at others for wanting to follow the rules to make us all safer, and calling us hysterical for being worried about the virus.

Have you seen some of the ridiculous posts over the last months? People being told they shouldn't be buying milk as it's not essential, I was told I shouldn't leave the house as I cough, posters complaining about neighbours leaving the house for too long or too often. Oh and the classic the other day where a poster wanted to know what they should do about their neighbours as they hear them coughing!

None of this is anything to do with keeping anyone safer, it's ridiculous overreaction and, yes, it is hyseterical.

Totally agree. Or the poor woman abused for wanting to drive to a larger supermarket than shop in her local co-op to buy socks for her toddler when she was doing her big shop because socks aren’t essential

Or calling pensioners walking to the newsagent for their paper “selfish cunts”. Disgusting

But here, in the UK, they will fuck it up.

The contract will be given to Serco. Those they recruit, sadly, will include people on petty power trips, those who couldn't become traffic wardens or -what were those pseudo-police called? PSOCs or something? That isn't 'bashing people on minimum wage', incidentally.

Anyway, it will all end up being a monumental, expensive fuck up. Of that we can be sure.

A completely accurate prediction!

And I say that as someone following the rules.

It will attract the worst sort of curtain twitcher and low-level bully, while simultaneously being completely ineffective in terms of disease control.

But it's an easy and low cost piece of political showmanship. As opposed to doing something genuinely useful. Like a decent testing regime. Or decent track and trace measures. Or identifying ways in which a return to school could be managed without cramming 30 kids into one classroom.

• Have you seen some of the ridiculous posts over the last months? People being told they shouldn't be buying milk as it's not essential, I was told I shouldn't leave the house as I cough, posters complaining about neighbours leaving the house for too long or too often. Oh and the classic the other day where a poster wanted to know what they should do about their neighbours as they hear them coughing!

None of this is anything to do with keeping anyone safer, it's ridiculous overreaction and, yes, it is hyseterical.*

I haven't seen any posts saying milk isn't essential. As for the your other examples - you're cherry-picking. The poster who wanted advice about a neighbour coughing constantly - and then was piled on - was just that. She just wanted advice and she was pilloried.

The only hysterical posters I see on here regarding COVID are the deniers - eg. you and your ilk. You constantly shout down anyone reasonable. The COVID board is difficult to read due to the lack of useful information now.