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Original poster

Two Women fined for walking for Starbucks

648 replies

Superketchup · 08/01/2021 13:17

What rule have they broken? I don’t understand. Two of them met - yes can meet one other person - they’d driven 5 miles - surely that’s ok?! - and they had a Starbucks each which the police said was a picnic?!
Why are they keeping takeaways open if it’s agaisnt the law to get one? I took my kids to the park, the coffee shop was open for takeaway. It was freezing. We got a hot chocolate each. I’m too scared to do so again!

OP posts:
Topseyt · 08/01/2021 15:28

@Chloemol

From the Gov,uk website

Exercise
You can continue to exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble. This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.You should maintain social distancing. See exercising.

To me driving 5 miles is not staying in your local area

Bollocks! Of course driving 5 miles is still local.

They travelled separately and didn't car share. Takeaway coffee is absolutely allowed under the rules.

The Derbyshire Police Force were the ones who made twats of themselves by filming walkers in the Peak District with drones in the first lockdown. They were roundly criticised for heavy handedness and making up their own rules and backed off with their tails between their legs.

It still seems that they haven't learned anything though and are still trying similar twattery.

I hope these ladies challenge any fines they receive. They broke no law so surely the fines would not be upheld.

Vitaminsss · 08/01/2021 15:29

@TrustTheGeneGenie no one’s stopping you from walking, walking doesn’t require a car. Nor does it require a beauty spot. Nor does it require Starbucks ffs

pinfloy · 08/01/2021 15:31

I think what's extra disappointing is the fines have been issued by individual police officers but the issuing of these has then subsequently been supported at a force wide level. This is not just one or two officers being heavy handed

Robbybobtail · 08/01/2021 15:34

I can only take it that crime is very low in that area and the police are sat around with nothing to do?

It's absolutely ridiculous. I hope the women don't pay it - id be straight on the phone to my lawyer.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 08/01/2021 15:34

[quote MintyCedric]@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants

My parents are probably more risk to me with 4 carers a day in 7 days a week in addition to me!

Tbf the giving her a lift is a legit point. I took a flask and two mugs so no sharing or close proximity.[/quote]
Hi Minty.

Your parents probably are more risk to you! I thought you were doing all their care. Multiple carers is worrying, but hopefully your parents & all the carers will be vaccinated soon!

I sssuned you weren't sharing a mug🤞🏼 But just that if she brings her own you haven't touched it. I know it's not the biggest risk, but it's still possible to pass it that way.

Massively envious of your proximity to the beach. For about 30 years I lived within a 20 minute walk, I miss it SO much!! ((Now 2 hour drive).

Enjoy your walks 😊

ravenmum · 08/01/2021 15:35

@elastamum

What is really bizarre about this is there is a kiosk at Foremarke which is currently open and selling take out coffee and snacks. Which according to the police is a picnic and therefore is not allowed.
It's presumably only a picnic if you meet up with someone else from another household to have drinks. (I'm guessing, though, as there's no definition.)

The only reason the drinks were brought up is because the woman mentioned them, evidently wanting to show they were not together, sharing drinks out of a single bottle or flask - they each had their own separate drinks. So it was their attempt to follow the rules that led to this fine. When the guidance is that unclear, there's something wrong with the guidance.

Topseyt · 08/01/2021 15:36

@Vitaminsss

It’s not against the law, but definitely against the spirit of the guidance to stay at home. No one needs to drive 5 miles to visit Starbucks and visit a pretty lake with their friend. We all have to make compromises here.
That's bollocks too. It isn't against the spirit of anything.

It is the Derbyshire Police Force who are acting in a way that is against the spirit of things. Over policing and making criminals of people who have done nothing wrong.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 08/01/2021 15:36

@atswim2birds

STILL theres nothing wrong with meeting for coffees in fucking starbucks.
Morons

Except you're too busy frothing to pay attention. That's NOT what happened.

benedicto · 08/01/2021 15:37

@pinfloy

I think what's extra disappointing is the fines have been issued by individual police officers but the issuing of these has then subsequently been supported at a force wide level. This is not just one or two officers being heavy handed
yes, at least in Maidenhead (fines for driving 2 miles to Tesco and some very misleading leaflets being printed that misrepresented the law) the local police force issued some statement that the individual police officers were wrong and would receive training. Why is that not happening in Derbyshire (and other slightly rural areas where this is happening all over the country).
Vitaminsss · 08/01/2021 15:38

@Topseyt so if the weather was currently nice, it would be okay for people to swarm beaches etc again? Doesn’t matter that we’re supposed to stay at home no?

QueenoftheAir · 08/01/2021 15:39

no one’s stopping you from walking, walking doesn’t require a car. Nor does it require a beauty spot. Nor does it require Starbucks ffs

Absolutely @Vitaminsss It's quite clear these were people meeting socially, not exercising.

And meanwhile, Sadiq Khan has just announced a major incident in London over the level of COVID infections - estimated as up to 1 in 20 people. That is very high.

Lockdown is difficult. But we'll get out of this mess more quickly if people would just think and act rather more sensibly. Certainly more sensibly than driving 5 miles and "exercising" with cups of takeaway coffee.

CaptainMyCaptain · 08/01/2021 15:39

It's not about 'a pretty lake' as mentioned above. It is well known that spending time in nature is beneficial to mental health.

unlikelytobe · 08/01/2021 15:40

Derbyshire Police are a bit heavy handed but there's quite a lot of misinformation and different interpretations of the guidelines out there. I know some will say it's crystal clear but I put it to you it's not, as this thread testifies.

I'm pretty sure there are coffee shops in Ashy de la Zouche and places to walk on the doorstep so this was a choice of theirs. But I'm also OK with people travelling a few miles for exercise (and coffee as you walk) if you travel separately, keep social distance etc. Ashby is close to a few county borders. I do despair of those travelling a long way to meet up though.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 08/01/2021 15:40

I suppose if a Scotch Egg is a 'substantial meal' then a Starbucks coffee can be a picnic, and a Polo mint will be a light snack.

womaninatightspot · 08/01/2021 15:41

To me 5 miles still seems local (it's 8 miles to get a pint of milk). I suspect police have been there to deter day trippers and got a bit overenthusiastic.

CaptainMyCaptain · 08/01/2021 15:42

Absolutely @Vitaminsss It's quite clear these were people meeting socially, not exercising.
How? Is it mot possible to do both? I walked 5 miles this morning with a friend, I didn't actually drive anywhere as I can access countryside from my door, we talked as we walked. Shock horror!

ragged · 08/01/2021 15:42

Come on, where are the
WE DEMAND A PROPER LOCKDOWN
people now?

countrygirl99 · 08/01/2021 15:42

5 miles to me would be very local. It's 8 miles to my nearest supermarket, 6 miles to my horse, 5 miles to my nearest post office. Thinking 5 miles is a long way is a very urban way of thinking.

Spikeyball · 08/01/2021 15:43

Driving to exercise or just driving is for our family more sensible than not doing them.

MiniTheMinx · 08/01/2021 15:43

The law and the guidance is too ambiguous if it can be interpreted differently by other people. STAY LOCAL means different things depending on where you live.

I walked dog over the fields and then to waitrose. Lots of people buying coffee and mooching about talking, some sitting on benches with 'picnics' its becoming the the new "thing to do" and "place to be"

I personally think 'local' needs to be clearly defined in respect of driving for exercise. The law should change to reflect this and also to factor in reasonable and necessary car journeys. And I would close coffee shops and day time take away. There, now we can all stay home, except I would scrap the 1hr rule for daily exercise, and allow people to decide for themselves how much exercise they need. Exercise and fresh air is our friend right now, mixing in coffee shops drinking on benches and mooching on high streets isn't, neither is it exercise.

AnneElliott · 08/01/2021 15:43

I wasn't surprised to see this was Derbyshire Police. They do have somewhat a reputation for behaviour like this...

RaspberryCoulis · 08/01/2021 15:44

Who's the Chief Constable of Derbyshire Police and who's (s)he trying to impress?

Their officers were incredibly over-zealous last time round too. Repeated tweeting about people "flouting", drone footage, dyeing water to stop people swimming.

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-derbyshire-police-dye-buxton-blue-lagoon-black-to-deter-gatherings-11964966

Bohemiagirl · 08/01/2021 15:45

I think the police were heavy handed. But I'm not convinced we've seen the full story. If she was in her car when approached by police how did she have to explain they had arrived in separate cars? They wouldn't have known her friend was with her if they weren't together? So were they sitting in the car? If so, that isn't ok. Although a warning would be fine.

Delta1 · 08/01/2021 15:45

@Vitaminsss

It’s not against the law, but definitely against the spirit of the guidance to stay at home. No one needs to drive 5 miles to visit Starbucks and visit a pretty lake with their friend. We all have to make compromises here.
Yes people - start making compromises please!! Oh wait ....
ravenmum · 08/01/2021 15:45

@countrygirl99

5 miles to me would be very local. It's 8 miles to my nearest supermarket, 6 miles to my horse, 5 miles to my nearest post office. Thinking 5 miles is a long way is a very urban way of thinking.
It's not even urban - I live in an urban area, and it's 6 miles into the town centre. That's local! I jog more than 5 miles on a regular basis.