Should we start policing the restrictions?

[notevenat20]

I recently had to go to London (tier 4) from my home in a tier 3 area.

I bought a train ticket as normal, went to the railway station, got the train to Paddington, then got the tube across London and went to where I needed to go. A few hours later i reversed the trip and at the last stage got a taxi home.

At no stage did I see a police officer or did anyone ask me why I was doing the journey.

Should we start trying to enforce the restrictions we have?

Move to North Korea.

No, because that’s a police state. We are not in China, where people were walled up inside their houses. Covid is horrible but it is isn’t Ebola or the Plague

No. Ffs. Why would anyone wish for that?

Yes great idea. They should wear hats like this so that we know they're taking it seriously.

Might as well reinstate the gestapo while you're at it ...

How do you think people would be able to prove they're visiting their support bubble or going to work?

And where do you think the extra police/station staff would be conjured up from?

You do know we don't have enough police for normal crime, let alone to do this?!

And where do you think the extra police/station staff would be conjured up from?

We have had policy officers in the main railway stations before and we had pcso's patrolling the parks, for example, in the first lockdown. I am not sure that's the thing stopping us.

No, I don’t think so personally.

First of all — and I live in (fairly) central London — most people are generally being respectful of the rules and guidance without needing a police presence. It has always been pretty compliant down here, especially given the sheer size of this city.

As far as I can see it the spread is happening at a more localised (and to a degree unavoidable) level than mass tier-to-tier travelling; instead it’s largely because of schools, care homes, hospitals and to a certain lesser extent people in your position, going about necessary and unavoidable business in the city. (I’m not casting aspersions here — I see your posts here often enough to know that you wouldn’t have done this trip unless you absolutely had to).

Besides, there aren’t nearly enough BTP officers to police every tube station and train, and every national rail station in London, let alone the rest of the country. The same goes for regional police services on the roads. They’re underfunded and understaffed as it is.

My cousin is a police officer (not BTP) and she’s strongly against the idea of the police enforcing tier restrictions. Ultimately, her view is that not only does it overstep the remit of what the police are there to do and the implied contract with the public and veer into police state territory, but also it would be a massive waste of staff and public resources, at a time when the police are stretched really thin anyway. The police aren’t social compliance marshals. She always says she’d rather be available to tackle a domestic violence call or similar quickly than be stuck on standby for the 90-odd percent of people who are already abiding by the rules anyway. As far as the police are concerned, there are still more significant concerns than covid that require their full attention and care.

@NastyBlouse

I agree with all of that. But what about the French/Spanish rule of requiring you to fill in a form explaining why you are doing the journey?

No just no!

Could we please stop refering to the Gestpo - it is deeply insulting to those who suffered from their actions, admittedly there are not many still alive, but nevertheless.

The term you are looking for is 'Blockwart'.

But what about the French/Spanish rule of requiring you to fill in a form explaining why you are doing the journey?

What’s the point of that? People determined to break the rules will just lie. People making legitimate journeys will still make them.

Person travelling across tiers wants it enforcing hmmm.

What the fuck is wrong with you?!

Comparisons with the Gestapo are appalling.

They tortured and killed people, you know. It isn't witty to reference them, really it isn't.

What was your excuse for breaking the rules?

Our nearest police station (if you call an office above a Pizza Hut a "station"), is 8 miles away and has the grand total of 10 officers to police a 110 square miles. The nearest "proper" station is 25 miles away in a big city. I very much doubt policing restrictions is top of their list of priorities to be honest.

I can completely understand why you are asking the question OP, but generally, as a nation, we won't accept such a draconian approach.
I know there is a curfew in Spain with a fine if you break it, I think it would be a good idea, but know it won't work here. We just have to hope that people are prepared to have small inconveniences in their lives for the greater good.

No ffs what's wrong with you people!!

Why bother? The police stop someone, that person says “I’m visiting my mother, she lives alone, we’re in a support bubble” what next? Follow them to check? Or just accept what they say and let them carry on?
The police would surely just have to accept it, and if that’s the case, they may as well not bother stopping people.

Maybe stay the fuck at home OP, I'm sure your journey wasn't important.

At no stage did I see a police officer or did anyone ask me why I was doing the journey.

This is not NK.

If you had been stopped, how could you have proven that your trip was 'essential'? What would stop you simply fibbing about the purpose of your trip?

[quote notevenat20]@NastyBlouse

I agree with all of that. But what about the French/Spanish rule of requiring you to fill in a form explaining why you are doing the journey?[/quote]
I think ultimately that is a matter for them. France and especially Spain have policing set-ups that are very different from ours in the UK from a legal and public standpoint.