Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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

So upset

26 replies

disconnecteddrifter · 18/12/2020 19:18

My ex told me hes taking our child to wales for a new years break. Our child is anxious enough - does anyone know if the police are checking the borders from England?

OP posts:
Cyclingwidow15 · 18/12/2020 19:26

Unless he has his own private property to stay in he won’t be staying long as all holiday accommodation is closed. It’s an open border so it can’t be policed last time they were just doing random spot checks. I live close to the border and when England were in lockdown but Wales was open the shops on our retail park were full of people from over the border with a distinct English accent Hmm

Gingerninja4 · 18/12/2020 19:27

There be pretty much nothing open also all non essential shops close and hotels etc as well

Original poster
disconnecteddrifter · 18/12/2020 19:29

He has a second home there. I completely disapprove of him travelling but that's another story and I have no right to tell him what to do. I just worry for my son as it will massively impact his anxiety if they are stopped. Thank you for replying as it looks like it might be ok

OP posts:
Petitmum · 18/12/2020 19:32

They might well be stopped but they might get away with it.........depends where they are travelling.

Frazzled2207 · 18/12/2020 19:33

well strictly speaking this isn't allowed but he probably won't be pulled over. There won't be anything open though other than supermarkets. Sounds boring.

SilentScreamQueen · 18/12/2020 19:34

Near where I live on the border, police were stopping people travelling from England when the Welsh firebreak ended and there were local lockdowns in England.

Original poster
disconnecteddrifter · 18/12/2020 19:34

He just wants to go to his second home to meetup with friends to see new year in

OP posts:
Petitmum · 18/12/2020 20:49

There will be no mixing of households at all from the 28th. All hospitality will be closed as will all non-essential retail - does he realise this???

LubaLuca · 18/12/2020 20:52

He won't be able to meet up with friends, it will be just him and your daughter. They could (should) do that without travelling.

Original poster
disconnecteddrifter · 18/12/2020 21:08

He has invited friends to go.

OP posts:
Palavah · 18/12/2020 21:11

How old is your child? It will help if you do nothing to fuel your child's anxiety.

Petitmum · 18/12/2020 21:27

Your ex is an idiot!

Original poster
disconnecteddrifter · 18/12/2020 21:46

Of course I'm doing nothing to fuel his anxiety. I just want to know what to prepare for when he gets back to fix any damage. Which I hope will be none as looks like not patrolling border

OP posts:
U8myufo · 18/12/2020 22:15

This is not allowed and I'm sure wherever his holiday home is, locally he will be pretty unpopular! Wouldn't be surprised if bit gets reported. Particularly a gathering...

Lupinhere37 · 19/12/2020 03:04

There were apparently police doing spot checks on the first weekend of the firebreak, in my part of Wales. Local shopkeepers here on the border were reporting that customers had been stopped. Depending on where his second home is, if he holds a gathering, they could be conspicuous and could well be reported to the police. There were certainly media reports indicating the Police in West Wales were fining people for breaking the rules.
If I were you, I wouldn’t let your child go.

isawthatt · 19/12/2020 03:13

I live close to the border but don’t think anyone got stopped (although I’m not in a major town so maybe people weren’t coming in my way). But everything will be closed then, it sounds very boring and completely pointless

Petitmum · 19/12/2020 10:53

Can you give us an idea which region the holiday house is in? Route of travel? Police are very pro active in some areas.

june2007 · 19/12/2020 11:00

Although I disaprrove, I don,t think we should judge. I mean you been to a supermarket recently?

june2007 · 19/12/2020 11:01

Well yes you can judge but I wonder how much greater the risk is, is what I,m getting at.

U8myufo · 19/12/2020 11:23

It's difficult, I totally get that people want to be able to take their kids away. I guess if he is prepared to take a fine on the chin, but it's possible he may be breaking his own lockdown as well as the Wales one (depending on what gets announced over the border) and also inviting friends for a gathering. I think if I knew my little one was going to get taken along with something that was illegal I would be pretty upset. It really is a difficult time for everyone right now and no easy decisions I'm sure.

THisbackwithavengeance · 19/12/2020 11:33

For heaven's sake, if I owned a home in Wales or in any part of the UK I would go there, regardless of opinion and people's made up versions of the Rules. People talking like he's crossing the English Channel in a dinghy or taking the child on foot through a crocodile infested swamp. People will be suggesting ringing 999 and reporting him next.

If the police ever stop me, they will be told that I am travelling for a permitted reason and I will continue on my journey. But funnily enough no-one I know has ever been stopped by the police for covid related travel; that happens only on MN as far as I can tell.

Why are you all so comfortable with this erosion of civil liberties?

Lupinhere37 · 19/12/2020 11:59

A quick google search will tell you that people absolutely have been stopped and fined in Wales. So it doesn’t only happen in mumsnet. I can find incidences in England, too. Look at the local news for Kent.

luckylavender · 19/12/2020 12:23

I cannot see where it's not allowed...?

LubaLuca · 19/12/2020 12:34

@THisbackwithavengeance

For heaven's sake, if I owned a home in Wales or in any part of the UK I would go there, regardless of opinion and people's made up versions of the Rules. People talking like he's crossing the English Channel in a dinghy or taking the child on foot through a crocodile infested swamp. People will be suggesting ringing 999 and reporting him next.

If the police ever stop me, they will be told that I am travelling for a permitted reason and I will continue on my journey. But funnily enough no-one I know has ever been stopped by the police for covid related travel; that happens only on MN as far as I can tell.

Why are you all so comfortable with this erosion of civil liberties?

I live one side of the border, and work on the other. I've been stopped by the police several times during the periods of strictest restriction, at a couple of points along the border. I carry a letter from my employer explaining I'm a key worker who can't work from home, to allow me to carry on with my journey. It's quite normal here, certainly not unusual.
Aardvarkitsabloodyaardvark · 19/12/2020 12:39

I'm fairly close to a border also. Definitely know of lots who have been stopped.
I guess you wouldn't know if you aren't local Hmm