Page 3 | Here we go again Woman arrested for sitting on a bench.

Nonamealoud · 10/01/2021 10:02

This is very scary what is it coming to when you can't sit down on a bench for a few min without being arrested

Arobase · 10/01/2021 10:02

In one of the recordings, a woman is told she has been stopped because 'You've been filmed today in the town centre and around here and walking up and down.' Yet people are allowed to walk up and down, it's called exercise, and you are allowed both to exercise in town centres and to go shopping there.

wowfudge · 10/01/2021 10:02

So far all I've noticed is the people all fined and in the papers are all women.

What, all 3 of them?

ThatIsNotMyUsername · 10/01/2021 10:03

I went to do the shopping yesterday no had to cross a large London park - it was the busiest I’ve ever seen it for a January weekend. It was mobbed and these weren’t family groups +1, no way! And lots of people eating takeaways (picnics, eh?). Not a single police officer (and there’s a station in the park).

We live next to a hotel and I’ve seen people arriving with suitcases.

Emergency my backside...

Rainb0wDrops · 10/01/2021 10:03

Scary stuff. I'm pregnant and when I go for a walk sometimes I need to rest for a few moments on a bench.
Really hope there's more to this story as obviously if I was stopped I'd politely explain to the police why I was sitting on a bench and agree to move on a few minutes.
But it would upset me and I'd be more worried about getting out for walks by myself.

Arobase · 10/01/2021 10:04

@Ihatemyseleffordoingthis

They will have politely reminded her of the current rules and asked her to move, with a much less polite response, several times before it came to handcuffs.

What rules?

Any guidance that says no-one is allowed to stop for a rest whilst exercising would very clearly be unlawful because of the obvious discrimination against the elderly and disabled.

whittystitties · 10/01/2021 10:04

So in lockdown 1, after just having had Covid and on a slow road to recovery, DH, myself and the kids went for a walk in an open space near our house. It was our first walk outside in over a month.

We quickly realised how knackered we both were given the Covid so let the kids play football with each other whilst we sat on the grass to get our breathe back.

The local police had been patrolling the open space as groups of youth had been gathering there.

Some bastard local called the police on us for sitting on the grass.

I hate what this country is becoming.

Same4Walls · 10/01/2021 10:05

Once again it shows that the police are flexing their muscles and going after soft targets.

An illegal rave.. Nah that's too much like hard work, you crack on with that whilst we arrest someone for sitting on a benfh or going for a walk.

Funkypolar · 10/01/2021 10:07

What happens to all the wannabe Stasi officers when this is over? I mean, I know what the French did to collaborators after the war.

Jetatyeovilaerodrome · 10/01/2021 10:08

Jesus, we are back in March with the 'sitting on the bench could KILL SOMEONE' shite.

I get that people aren't taking this lockdown seriously, but that seafront isn't even that crowded and a woman sitting on a fucking bench is not what is spreading the virus.

This is the police going for easy pickings, it's quite worrying really.

IdblowJonSnow · 10/01/2021 10:08

While you can queue up in coffee shops for 'takeaway' and be breathing in others germs, I see no issue with sitting alone on a bench whilst waiting for someone and I might have pointed this out (politely) to anyone who told me otherwise too.

Lemons1571 · 10/01/2021 10:08

I thought in the first lockdown, police were told not to confront anyone in certain areas of London for fear of inciting riots. They were instructed to hang back and monitor only.

I would guess the police select more compliant targets to show the wider world they are cracking down.

I sometimes think that people forget that the ultimate aim is to prevent virus transmission.

FightingWithTheWind · 10/01/2021 10:09

If these women had done what the police asked of them in the first place they wouldn't have been arrested - if they had a reasonable excuse to be outside then the fine can be appealed against - but refusing to give police your details is an offence, and arguing with them when they are trying to do their job is never going to end well.

Punxsutawney · 10/01/2021 10:12

There were anti lockdown protests at Bournemouth beach yesterday (it happens most weekends) at the location on the video.

Nothing suggests the individuals involved had been part of it but quite often there is more to a situation than we see on a short video.

Bollss · 10/01/2021 10:12

@FightingWithTheWind

If these women had done what the police asked of them in the first place they wouldn't have been arrested - if they had a reasonable excuse to be outside then the fine can be appealed against - but refusing to give police your details is an offence, and arguing with them when they are trying to do their job is never going to end well.

They're not trying to do their job though Are They? They're trying to enforce rules that don't exist. Why should they do as they're told when there is no basis for them being told to do it? If a police officer told you to jump on one leg for 10 minutes would you do it? I don't think you have to giveyour details unless you've broken a law which none of the women mentioned on this thread did.

Hoppinggreen · 10/01/2021 10:16

There’s sitting on a bench and saying “Ok, officers I am going now”
And there’s sitting on a bench, telling Police Officers you know your rights etc etc while getting a friend to film the whole thing
That woman was arrested for being a Dick basically

ThatIsNotMyUsername · 10/01/2021 10:18

Police are like customs officers - you can’t win by arguing with them.

Same4Walls · 10/01/2021 10:18

That woman was arrested for being a Dick basically

I didn't realise you could be arrested simply for being a dick. Or knowing your rights. How niave of me to assume you would have to be actually breaking the law...

Bollss · 10/01/2021 10:19

@Hoppinggreen

There’s sitting on a bench and saying “Ok, officers I am going now” And there’s sitting on a bench, telling Police Officers you know your rights etc etc while getting a friend to film the whole thing That woman was arrested for being a Dick basically

Sorry, telling officers you know your rights is an arrestable offence now? Wow.

endofthelinefinally · 10/01/2021 10:20

It is much easier to target lone women or young families. Around here they do absolutely nothing about groups of men breaking all the rules.

Nonamealoud · 10/01/2021 10:22

That woman was arrested for being a Dick basically
You can get arrested for this 🥺 better start regining in my attitude or I'll be dh could get me arrested about 10 times a day 🤪

Punxsutawney · 10/01/2021 10:24

www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/19000123.covid-dorset-police-chief-slams-bournemouth-protestors/

Sounds like some of the protesters decided to form smaller groups around the town.

Heartlantern2 · 10/01/2021 10:25

Madness lays this way.

We all know it. We all know this is going to be just the beginning too.

Don’t talk about it too much though....you may be seen as crazy!

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 10/01/2021 10:25

Seasalt- I think some of these coppers are having a hard on for giving people a hard time tbh
You think?
How do you know she didn’t kick off?
How do you know whether or not she was breaking the rules in some way?

Bollss · 10/01/2021 10:27

@Goodbye2020Hello2021

Seasalt- I think some of these coppers are having a hard on for giving people a hard time tbh You think? How do you know she didn’t kick off? How do you know whether or not she was breaking the rules in some way?

It doesn't matter what she did, does it? They shouldn't have approached her in the first place because she was doing nothing wrong. If they hadn't approached her, she wouldn't have got aggressive or kicked off (If she indeed even did that)