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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:
Cattitudes · 08/01/2021 13:32

What if I have to drive to near their house for him to walk with his friend? Ds is only yr6 before people suggest he walks 3 miles to his friend's house or catch two busses.

Chloemol · 08/01/2021 13:35

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

user1471523870 · 08/01/2021 13:35

I think you are only allowed out for exercising, essentials, work or medical care. Leisure trips to coffee shops are not included.

user1471523870 · 08/01/2021 13:36

@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

Agreed.
Waxonwaxoff0 · 08/01/2021 13:36

Bloody hell. I better be careful, I live in Derbyshire and I've just grabbed a Costa on the way home from the food shop. Criminal.

RoseAndRose · 08/01/2021 13:37

Police have the discretion to decide what's reasonable in their local area.

There's no set distance, because that would obviously be unfair.

Stay local - if they'd been walking round the nearest park, rather than driving to a beauty spot where police are keeping numbers down, I'm ready to bet there would have been no issue

Glenorma · 08/01/2021 13:38

They were clearly sitting in the car together, which is illegal.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 08/01/2021 13:38

@user1471523870

I think you are only allowed out for exercising, essentials, work or medical care. Leisure trips to coffee shops are not included.
But they went out for exercise? They just got a coffee while doing it. Loads of people do. There is a cafe open at our local park, everyone is using it when they go out for exercise.
MrsFezziwig · 08/01/2021 13:38

I’m generally against people wriggling out of the rules but this is ridiculous. Were Derbyshire not the force that was pulled up in the first lockdown for filming people going for a walk?

It says in the news report that a large number of police were already there when the women arrived. So basically they had failed to find anyone actually breaking the rules and had to justify their presence in the area. Not sure why you would need large numbers of police to be present though, a couple would be sufficient to warn people off if necessary.

Sadly I’m not in Derbyshire - if I was I would be suggesting that their time would be better spent turning up to prevent the low-level crime happening near me on a daily basis.

trulydelicious · 08/01/2021 13:39

Why the need to drive 5 miles?

are now sticking to walks nearer their homes

Mission accomplished then?

whittystitties · 08/01/2021 13:41

What kind of nation are we becoming where this is illegal, ridiculous

junglepie · 08/01/2021 13:41

Oh heavens, here we go again. Since when can you be fined for something not "being in the spirit" of something. Last I knew you could only be fined, or face the consequences of the criminal justice system for actually breaking the law.
And yes I would say 5 miles from your house was very much in your local area. I often go on a run that is longer then 5 miles!

IntermittentParps · 08/01/2021 13:41

Ds is only yr6 before people suggest he walks 3 miles to his friend's house or catch two busses.
I did those things at his age.

Driving 5 miles seems excessive in the context of the spirit of lockdown. I do wonder if other police forces are running scared now that Durham are investigating Cummings properly.

ImAllOut · 08/01/2021 13:42

It was the driving 5 miles wasn't it? I'm not 100% sure as I'm in Wales and that's enough to get you fined here...

I'm in disbelief at this though, does no-one else think that when we look back on headlines like this in ten years' time we will wonder what the fuck was going on?

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 08/01/2021 13:42

Not in the spirit?

Sounds like Mumsnet ...

IdblowJonSnow · 08/01/2021 13:43

They haven't broken any laws and the fines wont be upheld.

junglepie · 08/01/2021 13:43

@Glenorma

They were clearly sitting in the car together, which is illegal.
It doesn't say that anywhere. It was clear they travelled in separate cars and parked with a space in between. Why would you think they were sitting in the same car???
CaptainMyCaptain · 08/01/2021 13:44

@Plussizejumpsuit

Ah it's in Derbyshire if I remember rightly they were massively ott in the first lockdown. Also just to say I'm pro lockdown not some covid conspiracy nutter.
I live in Derbyshire. I'm not anti-lockdown either and not anti-police but this is ridiculous.
trulydelicious · 08/01/2021 13:45

@MarieIVanArkleStinks

Grin
skodadoda · 08/01/2021 13:45

@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

‘Should’ is the crucial word here. It’s guidance, not law.
junglepie · 08/01/2021 13:46

@MarieIVanArkleStinks

Not in the spirit?

Sounds like Mumsnet ...

I was just thinking how ridiculous this phrase is! I mean really, this should be about science and clear laws and rational decisions. Where the F does "the spirit" come into it?!?
Lemons1571 · 08/01/2021 13:46

@BobbinThreadbare123

I think the major reasoning is that travelling across into Derbyshire from Leicestershire is a no-no. The coffee thing is ridiculous though.
Is it a no-no in law?
MutantNinjaCovid · 08/01/2021 13:47

@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

And unless at least one lives alone they can't have a support bubble.
Gwenhwyfar · 08/01/2021 13:47

@ThatDamnKrampus

But meeting one other person (not in your household or bubble) is only supposed to be for exercise though isn't it? Amd driving for exercise; exercise must be longer than journey?
Not allowed to drive for exercise at all in Wales.
Covine · 08/01/2021 13:47

Aren't Derbyshire coppers the ones that published drone photos of that couple with their dog miles from anywhere? And put a massive red arrow pointing at the dog with the label "NOT NECESSARY"?

Sounds like they're up to their old tricks. Wankers.