Is the stay at home order actually law?

[Minaun]

As per the title. Having a heated discussion at the moment. Is this the law or just advisory?
Thank you.

I guess this is the moment when we are reminded of the hugely Draconian powers our MPs gave to govt.

New regulations now made and in force since 7 a.m.: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1611/pdfs/uksi_20201611_en.pdf

joystir59 It may become law either today some time or possibly next week but at the moment it is only guidance as others on this thread have pointed out. Until the actual regulations are published we won’t know exactly what is and isn’t permitted as the law has often been less strict than the guidance for practical and drafting reasons.
It is sensitive situations like visiting terminally ill relatives or attending funerals that may well be allowed by exception and if allowed by law people can then make their own decisions as what is best to do in their particular circumstances. All I would say is if you have an exemption and are allowed to travel you have the piece of legislation to hand if challenged as the police and others, understandably in some cases given the tight timescales, have no idea what the actual law is.

@Elephant4

Who is going to enforce these new restrictions?

The police in Yorkshire were very good about stopping cars from a tier 3 area travelling to a tier 2 area.......even though legally you are allowed to travel from tier 3 to tier 2. They set up road blocks!

@GrishainDisguise

Be careful, because for instance your car insurance will be invalid if you have an accident and it was not an essential journey. There can be many other instances where it matters if the stay at home order is law.

@GrishainDisguise

Pls stop spreading lies on the Internet. It's not big or clever.

Thanks Mary Lee on High!

Thanks @MaryLeeOnHigh. Looks like the regs don't say that you can't leave tier 4 for exercise (unless I've missed it) so am off for a nice walk today in the quiet neighbouring area. Also pleased to see we can visit the cemetery - important for lots of people at this time of year

Surely the important question is the list of exceptions. Can you leave your home to go and look at other places you might want to rent/buy for example?

Can someone tell me if I'm able to go to my local NT garden today? I've got tickets booked & the website hasn't been updated with tier 4 rules yet.

The regs say you can leave for essential stuff . Which to my mind would mean actions involved in actually moving .

But no ,apparently you can potter about browsing .

"Moving home
You can still move home. People outside your household or support bubble should not help with moving house unless absolutely necessary.

Estate and letting agents and removals firms can continue to work. If you are looking to move, you can go to property viewings".

@Lurkingforawhile

Thanks *@MaryLeeOnHigh*. Looks like the regs don't say that you can't leave tier 4 for exercise (unless I've missed it) so am off for a nice walk today in the quiet neighbouring area. Also pleased to see we can visit the cemetery - important for lots of people at this time of year

Not to be too snippy but why can't you go for your nice walk inside your own area? I also live in Tier 4 btw. Just because the regulations don't explicitly exclude one specific activity doesn't mean you should go and do it. Also I though the general rule was T4 residents shouldn't leave T4 except for specific and limited reasons?

"Unlike the November national restrictions, communal worship can continue to take place in tier 4 areas."

Well, this is batshit. So fed up with pandering to the superstitious.

Lurking do you think that means it is also legal to enter a tier 4 area during exercise - but not as a group of 6 non shared householders?

Can we travel through tier 4 areas? I have a medical appointment in a tier 2 area - but the only way to it via train, which is my only option is to change trains at a station in a tier 4 area.

Ok, it does look like we are allowed to transit through tier 4 areas.
www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/tier-4-travel-rules-christmas-holiday-b1776614.html

@HelloDaisy my understanding is that if your daughter lives alone, then she could meet her boyfriend to go for a walk (socially distanced of course), provided that both live in the same area. They've worded it as "individuals" can meet with one other person outside, which seems to be intended for those living alone who otherwise would have no social contact.

If your daughter lives with anyone else, then she wouldn't be able to.

@Catsmother1 they would only be able to meet if both lived in the same area and either your son or his partner lived alone. The wording is "individuals" may meet with one other person, and seems to be intended for those living alone who otherwise would have no social contact at all.
The length of the walk is not an issue, although they would need to remain socially distanced of course.

I'm not sure that's true ^Glitter*. I don't think 'individuals' applies to the number in the household. Rather it means that only 2 people from seperate households can meet for a walk.

here you go.

Surely something only becomes law when Parliament passes it unless we've become a dictatorship.

Fairly sure the main coronavirus act allowed for new laws to be added without a parliamentary vote, subject to the power being time limited.

In this instance though Labour would vote for it anyway so it doesn't make a difference.

Matt Hancock on Andrew Marr specifically said the new updates are law this morning , when he said he had been up since 5 this morning to make sure. What a hero

@starrynight19

Matt Hancock on Andrew Marr specifically said the new updates are law this morning , when he said he had been up since 5 this morning to make sure. What a hero

I think he's probably right this time but how many times have Ministers given "clarification" that turned out to be wrong?

@snowballer fair question. For me the lowest risk walk is one where I encounter as few people as possible. I live in an urban area, but half a mile away is a rural area where we have a few known routes which are very quiet. We found two where we never see another person. The other option would be to drive half an hour to the other side of the urban area where there is a tier 4 quiet rural area. That was plan b, but I’m going with plan a to avoid the longer drive as it’s legal to do so.

@OhYouBadBadKitten medical appointments are fine as they are allowed. Lots of people who live near me go to hospitals in neighbouring tier 2 areas. I don’t know about the 6 person thing though. Hope your travel to the appointment goes well.

The new regs were published at 7am. Kudos to those working all night on them