'Snitch on your neighbours '

[Namechanger20183110]

Lots of sound bites in today's MSM from the policing minister suggesting pretty clearly that if you see your neighbours in groups of more than 6, ring the police.

The government are not even trying to hide their blatant tactics anymore to create divisions and animosity so that we stop focusing on the fact that they are a complete fuck up. There is already so much negativity out there. When I venture out, I'm more intimidated by somebody saying something to me about me unknowingly breaching a rule than I am of covid itself!

Will you snitch on your neighbour? I certainly won't be.

you are actually allowed out to buy essentials!!

Not during self isolation or quarantine

People need to get shopping delivered, or if they cannot, ask friends/family/neighbours or contact voluntary organisations or their council.

It's not 'lockdown rules' it's isolation.

Yes, you are allowed out in exceptional circumstances even if you are quarantining after travel. Taken from the government website:

In England, you are allowed to leave your accommodation in exceptional circumstances. This includes such things as:

accessing basic necessities like food and medicines where you cannot arrange for these to be delivered
moving to a different place for self-isolation where you can no longer remain where you are

@AuntieStella

you are actually allowed out to buy essentials!!

Not during self isolation or quarantine

People need to get shopping delivered, or if they cannot, ask friends/family/neighbours or contact voluntary organisations or their council.

It's not 'lockdown rules' it's isolation.

And if you can’t do any of this then you can go out for essentials, deliveries will get much more difficult and not everyone has family, friends or neighbours.

But everyone does have a local council, and the ability to contact community groups.

When you are isolating, you're following the old 'shield' rules. You just don't go out.

The only exception is for essential medical appointments which cannot be carried out by telephone, and with full Covid precautions, or if you get thrown out or your house becomes uninhabitable and you have to move.

Only if local community groups and your council have failed to provide the service should people even consider going out to buy food (no one is expected to starve, but everyone is expected to explore all avenues so they do not need to go out)

Remember though the rule of 6 only apply to us plebs, so if you do want a large gathering, make sure you have a plastic grouse and everyone in the party has nerf guns and when the police turn up tell them its a grouse shoot

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-grouse-shooting-hunting-new-rule-six-b436707.html

My friend works on 999 the calls have been busy since April with people calling about neighbours, the police don’t have the resources to deal with every call. They would be literally doing nothing else
She says some people ring every day about different people in their street

Or have sport type birthday parties

Paint balling still going here in big groups as are footy and tampoline parties!

No of course I wouldn't snitch on my neighbours.

As per the rule of 6..it is a random figure backed by no evidence whatsoever, I don't believe this government or trust their competency..however I will try to abide where there isn't an urgent need, just because my life is complicated enough without having the police at my front door...

The rules are ridiculous and contradictory to each other.

So no I won’t be notifying anyone if my neighbours have an illicit BBQ.

I think the local as underfunded police have more pressing priorities .

I'm not sure I would be able to tell whether my neighbours have more than 6 people over. I'm not going to stand and watch who goes into each of their houses or peak over the fence and count them and I hope my neighbours won't be doing that to me

It really worries me what type of person will apply to be a covid warden.

@rookiemere

It really worries me what type of person will apply to be a covid warden.

Maybe the person needs work? Maybe they feel a sense of social responsibility like those who volunteered to shop for others etc? Maybe they are sick of people thinking the rules don’t apply to them?

Plenty of reasons. Other countries have them.

Surely people aren't going to know who is in each others house when it is dark in the winter, that is why burglaries are so prolific in winter, most people sit inside with curtains drawn.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss which countries have covid marshalls and do we know what their remit is ?

Genuinely interested as I feel it's an intrinsically abhorrent idea to introduce a role which consists of spying on your neighbours. I can also bet there won't be very many of these Marshalls in high density housing or areas with drug issues where more serious infringements are likely to be taking place.

And yes @RedRiverShore I don't intend to break the rules, but I'll make damn sure the curtains are closed and any visitors come round the back so I can't be spied on. I live in Edinburgh in 2020 FGS not East Germany after the wall went up.

I can also bet there won't be very many of these Marshalls in high density housing or areas with drug issues where more serious infringements are likely to be taking place

True. I can think of loads of people on my nice leafy middle class street who will be salivating at the chance to report their neighbours for having their grandparents round in the garden, meaning their are 7 people instead of 6.

@rookiemere

It really worries me what type of person will apply to be a covid warden.

It worries me too.

They will be the sanctimonious neighbourhood busybodies and do-gooders, almost certainly. The ones who thought we shouldn't buy chocolate or have barbecues/drink wine at the start of the last lockdown. Or that we should put cheese in our coffee because milk is non-essential.

I am likely to view them with much suspicion at first.

I think there is perhaps a role for Covid information people, particularly amongst ethnic communities where English may not be first language and they may be less likely to be on top of all the guidelines. Let's face it they are hard enough to grasp as a native English speaker.
But it should very much be a support and education role from someone within the community, rather than clipboard exercise in tattle telling.

Yes that’s a great idea @rookiemere

I wouldn’t, but let’s be honest there is enough folks out there who don’t need any encouragement, they are actively watching and itching to report anyone they see breaking the rules. The government doesn’t need to encourage them.

You’re either that person or you’re not.

@rookiemere

It really worries me what type of person will apply to be a covid warden.

Agree, it will likely be people with little else to do, who actively want to report folks and wish to have some importance, control and power, that they lack in their personal life. It will be the curtain twitchers who watch their neighbours already and report them.

However these folks also tend to be quite introverted with limited social circles, so not sure in reality they’d have the bottle to be approaching groups of people, and breaking it up. Because let’s face it, it’s risky. The reactions will not always be “yes of course “ and could be abusive.

Minor breaches definately not, hosting a full on party then yes likely?

The road where we used to live was full of the kind of people who would be very happy to be covid wardens. They watched people, peered into windows, put anonymous notes through people's doors, complained about everything from noise from mowing the lawn or DIY or cooking smell to parking or children playing in their garden. It was a toxic environment. We withstood being "under surveillance" for 6 years but it nearly broke us. All in the name of "Neighbourhood Watch"

I have applied to become a covid marshall. They don't ask for any previous experience just need to have "a passion for curtain twitching". DD 2 yrs 8mnths loves spending time looking out of the window and as she can count to 20 I have recruited her as my assistant. She will let me know if she sees groups of people of more than 6 and get the phone for me to call the police (she loves running errands for me)-i call it being a responsible citizen and teaching my child to be a responsible citizen too. I need to be careful as well though coz if I snitch on the wrong person there is a chance we could get knifed or have shit thrown on our door step.

@Beebityboo

I live in a village where this will be common place. In fact I expect a wicker man to be hastily erected on the common for the rule breakers.