Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Is this breaking the law re 6 people

59 replies

FallenSkies · 20/09/2020 20:27

Next to my DC nursery there is a play park. After pick up each lunchtime I take him there to have a picnic lunch and let him run around and play before his afternoon nap.
Quite a few other mums take their DC there for a quick play too, and inevitably the children end up playing together on the climbing frame etc, and us parents stand making polite conversation when not tending to the DC (all socially distanced though).
Is it now breaking the law as there are more than 6 of us at the park, even though it isn't an arranged meet up? Or am I over thinking this?

OP posts:
HesterShaw1 · 20/09/2020 22:14

What a load of total shit.

Can't believe it has come to this.

Original poster
FallenSkies · 20/09/2020 22:19

@StealthPolarBear

It's the same with school pick up. It's arranged as I know what time to get there and I know who else will be there (other parents in my child's class). Am I allowed to talk to them from 2m away or not? Amplified by the fact I am in local lockdown and not allowed to mingle at all.
That's a really good point. We will all be standing in the same area for pick up, so surely we are just doing the same thing a few meters away in the playground? We are south east, so no local lockdown yet. I can see it is a grey area though, as if someone wanted to meet up with more than 5 other people this would be a good way to do it. I'm really not a rule breaker, and if the park is busy I wouldn't go in until it was quieter. I just panicked I would've breaking the law if I were in there and some of the others went in too Blush
OP posts:
grandmasterstitch · 20/09/2020 22:27

Against the law? I mean if that's "against the law" then I must be a serial criminal Hmm I'm in the north east so apparently if I'm out with my son for a walk and a neighbour walks past me and we stop and pass the time of day then I'm breaking the law? I'm never heard such crap. And yes before everyone jumps on me, I know that technically it's against the rules but since when were we incapable of applying common sense? Not having a couple of friends round for drinks? Fine. Not being able to have a 2 minute chat from 2m away while on a walk? Utter nonsense

Original poster
FallenSkies · 20/09/2020 22:27

I have only ever chatted in a group of no more than 3 adults at a time, but if you factored in our DC we would be over 6 people. Other adults and their DC have been there too, but my son only seems to play alongside a small group.

I think I will just keep distant and hope for the best.

It's all just such a shit situation and really has me questioning what is best

OP posts:
YoBeaches · 21/09/2020 06:48

From the actual legislation.... no it's not illegal.

Outdoor playgrounds are also able to reopen but the people responsible for them – for example, the local authority – should ensure they comply with COVID-19 Secure guidelines to help avoid risks of transmission. Anyone using playgrounds should take particular care to wash their hands after use and avoid touching their face. Children should be supervised carefully to maintain good hygiene and should not use playgrounds if they have any signs or symptoms of coronavirus.

•	follow the limits on the number of other people you should meet with as a group - no more than six people unless you all live together (or are in the same support bubble)
•	avoid social interaction with anyone outside the group you are with, even if you see other people you know
SnuggyBuggy · 21/09/2020 06:57

We're still doing park meetings. If we saw a police officer on patrol we'd just pretend not to know each other.

notevenat20 · 21/09/2020 07:13

The law is against "gatherings" not chatting. Chatting to someone who happens to be in the same public space as you isn't a gathering.

I believe this is wrong. If you arrange to meet 6 friends for a chat that is exactly what the law bans.

notevenat20 · 21/09/2020 07:15

We're still doing park meetings. If we saw a police officer on patrol we'd just pretend not to know each other.

There is a chance that this is what is causing the second wave. By which I mean everyone bending the rules.

TheGreatWave · 21/09/2020 07:15

It is legal, however from the outside looking in, it probably would look like you were, especially if a number of you are also eating lunch.

SnuggyBuggy · 21/09/2020 07:19

@notevenat20

We're still doing park meetings. If we saw a police officer on patrol we'd just pretend not to know each other.

There is a chance that this is what is causing the second wave. By which I mean everyone bending the rules.

Could be, I'm past caring. Meeting friends outdoors is the only thing people with small children have left now
notevenat20 · 21/09/2020 07:22

Meeting friends outdoors is the only thing people with small children have left now

I have small children. I might have missed your situation but can’t you meet one friend in the park instead of 6?

SnuggyBuggy · 21/09/2020 07:25

I could, it depends who is available.

notevenat20 · 21/09/2020 07:27

I could, it depends who is available.

If you could limit it to meeting one friend outdoors, it would be hugely better for everyone

SnuggyBuggy · 21/09/2020 07:30

Would it? There is no limit to how many people are allowed in parks. Someone suggests the park, whoever is available turns up. It's not like us adults are hugging and kissing.

SoUtterlyGroundDown · 21/09/2020 07:33

@notevenat20

I could, it depends who is available.

If you could limit it to meeting one friend outdoors, it would be hugely better for everyone

I have three young children. My only friend in the area has two young children. If we ever want to meet, that’s 7 of us. We won’t meet, because I don’t want to risk being reported. But it really is shit.
notevenat20 · 21/09/2020 07:34

Would it? There is no limit to how many people are allowed in parks. Someone suggests the park, whoever is available turns up. It's not like us adults are hugging and kissing.

Yes, in short. Even if you don’t touch or go close when you say hello and goodbye you probably look at each other when you talk and if you are not wearing a mask then risk infection from your breath and droplets.

WatchingWithDisinterest · 21/09/2020 07:35

What an absolute ball of shit. I for one won't be doing it. If the 'police' try and stop me, I'm sure I'll find a very good excuse or reasonable argument to me being there. I and everyone else I'm friends or family with just don't care either. Fuck it.

ShouldWeChangeTheBulb · 21/09/2020 07:36

It’s mingling, it’s against the law.

SnuggyBuggy · 21/09/2020 07:39

Life isn't risk free.

Equimum · 21/09/2020 07:42

Thanks for asking this OP. It seems like such a grey area and I don’t really know the answer.

We went to the village park on Saturday as a family of three. When we got there, we immediately spotted two other families that our children know. Within minutes, there were 7 children playing and I got chatting to another mum. Did that technically make us a group of 9, or a 7 and a 2? Should we have separated the kids (no idea how, and difficult to explain as they are either in the same class and allowed to play together at school, or in the siblings of those children).

While I really want to comply with the rules, so many are so grey that it is difficult to know precisely want us and what is to rule breaking.

rookiemere · 21/09/2020 07:46

Keep using the play park whilst your DCs still can.Keep a 2 metre distance from other people when there. I was going to say I'd be astounded if the police came to tell you off,but then you are a nice easy target.

Provided you keep your distance and have not pre planned to meet there, you aren't breaking any law I would have thought.

It's a bit like walking to my exercise class. We're in Scotland so two households only. So we have to walk in groups of two like bloody Handmaidens, but once we get to the field we're all allowed to talk to each other provided we are 2mt apart as it's an organised exercise class.

At least in both examples we're outside. I really don't understand why they stopped differentiating between inside and outside , although I believe the official reason is to make it simpler to follow.

Browneyesbigbum · 21/09/2020 07:53

Well if you pretend you are meeting in the same place for a shooting party then all is ok Hmm

You aren't going together you just happen to be at the same place (like school) SD the parents and the kids are together during the week anyway.

RedskyAtnight · 21/09/2020 08:17

I've taken to using a rule of thumb which is "if a complete stranger walked past us any point, would he think there were more than 6 of us in a group?" So if you're only exchanging the odd remark with a parent and you're genuinely 2 metres away, and your child is not playing in a big group, then this is probably fine. If it would look to a casual stranger that you were all mixing together - not fine.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 21/09/2020 08:26

Yes. Clearly against the law as you are all socialising and a family member reported seeing the police turn up with blue lights flashing and move a similar gathering on this afternoon.

Good God, what had this country come to?

OverTheRainbow88 · 21/09/2020 08:39

Good God, what had this country come to?

I know it’s a joke. Diabolical.

I will continue to go to our local playground, if all my local friends and their kids are there so be it, they all go to nursery and pre school
Together anyway and the parents keep to the 2m rule. What do the government want? The next generation of kids to be germ phobes with no social skills.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.