Enforcement of the new rules on social distancing, unnecessary journeys etc.

[Bletchleyite]

Quite, I have seen far more police cars driving about than I can ever recall but presumably that's either doing "patrols" or driving to specific emergencies

Yeah, I seem to be hearing more of them than usual too.

 

[AM9]

Nobody can tell me confectionery isn’t essential! If anything it’s more essential now than ever before as I’m stuck at home all day every day.

They can tell you but it sounds like you won't agree.

 

[hexagon789]

Yeah, I seem to be hearing more of them than usual too.

Helicopters and drones as well, so they do seem to be watching things more closely if nothing else

 

[scotrail158713]

They can tell you but it sounds like you won't agree.

Yep

 

[Jayden99]

Where abouts in Bucks are you? MK is very, very quiet, though admittedly (despite a nice running route from my house being round Furzton Lake) I'm avoiding the honeypots as I feel it's my responsibility to do so, and the car will not be used for anything other than NHS volunteering until it's all lifted (I'm finding shopping locally in one of the Co-ops to be vastly more pleasant than what I'm hearing about the big places, things are generally well stocked and people are being nice and accommodating and sticking to social distancing).

I'm in Chesham, it might be because I live right in the town centre but I'm aware of a lot of people being out and about

 

[AM9]

Listening to an interview on BBC R4 PM, of somebody who lives in Wuhan, where he explained that when residents there are tested as clear of COVID-19 (presumably by having antibodies in their blood), they are given a QR code so that when they go out, their health can be checked one would assume against a government database. This verifies that they are of reduced risk to others.
I can imagine some libertarians objecting to such a thing here, so presumably they would expect to be treated as trustworthy, and not have any incorruptable document certifying their health.

 

[oldman]

Perhaps cyclists are more law abiding in England, but in Glasgow and majority seem to think it's their god-given right to either use the pavement to circumvent traffic lights or road junctions or to cycle on the pavement regardless.

With the need to keep a greater distance from other people on pavements, these cyclists make it far more awkward and difficult to do so, particularly as many are cycling in groups.

I was walking along the Union Canal yesterday and the mix of walkers, joggers and cyclists made it seem busier than it was. I suppose it's like railways, pathing with a mixture of speeds reduces capacity. There was some poor behaviour in all three groups. I was glad to get onto the old Balerno branch with its greater width.

 

[AM9]

Yep

So they can tell you.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I was walking along the Union Canal yesterday and the mix of walkers, joggers and cyclists made it seem busier than it was. I suppose it's like railways, pathing with a mixture of speeds reduces capacity. There was some poor behaviour in all three groups. I was glad to get onto the old Balerno branch with its greater width.

As the Canal and River Trust have pointed out, canal towpaths are a poor choice because they're often not 2m wide and people live in boats by them.

I've found running on quiet suburban streets best, as you can easily cross the road or run in the road to avoid people.

 

[Meerkat]

Quite, I have seen far more police cars driving about than I can ever recall but presumably that's either doing "patrols" or driving to specific emergencies

Sure you aren’t just noticing them more because of the lack of traffic?
Oh, and your “is my journey really necessary” guilt

 

[hexagon789]

Sure you aren’t just noticing them more because of the lack of traffic?
Oh, and your “is my journey really necessary” guilt

Lack of traffic?!

Yesterday was busier than the average weekday!

Today, similar

 

[AM9]

Well it looks like the present movement restrictions will be maintained for at least another 2-3 weeks which is a relief. Maybe the next review will be about 2 weeks after the easter weekend when the effects on any non-compliance with the rules can be seen as an increase in the number of cases. If there is another upswing, then expect there to be at least 3 weeks more from then. Some people really don't help at all.
Gratefully, the police successes in recent days seem to be from neighbours and other complying people informing the police of selfish behaviour. As the majority of the population are doing the right thing, to see their riends and relatives go down sick and even die will cause a lot of anger so the selfish ones can't expect much sympathy except from the few others like them. That will enable the police to operate in the interests of the majority.

 

[farleigh]

Well it looks like the present movement restrictions will be maintained for at least another 2-3 weeks which is a relief. Maybe the next review will be about 2 weeks after the easter weekend when the effects on any non-compliance with the rules can be seen as an increase in the number of cases. If there is another upswing, then expect there to be at least 3 weeks more from then. Some people really don't help at all.
Gratefully, the police successes in recent days seem to be from neighbours and other complying people informing the police of selfish behaviour. As the majority of the population are doing the right thing, to see their riends and relatives go down sick and even die will cause a lot of anger so the selfish ones can't expect much sympathy except from the few others like them. That will enable the police to operate in the interests of the majority.

The police have no mandate to act in the interests of any section of society. They are there to uphold the law. Nothing more. Not to encourage people or cajole them. Just to do their job.

 

[johnnychips]

What’s worse, passing someone for three seconds on a canal towpath or shopping in a supermarket where there is little air circulation and shoppers are passing each other all the time? What about the shop, bank and health workers who are there each day, all the time (for whom I will be clapping in a couple of hours)?

If we are not careful we can get too paranoid and pedantic about this guidance.

 

[yorksrob]

Plus if someone is picking up a "non-essential item in their weekly shop

Listening to an interview on BBC R4 PM, of somebody who lives in Wuhan, where he explained that when residents there are tested as clear of COVID-19 (presumably by having antibodies in their blood), they are given a QR code so that when they go out, their health can be checked one would assume against a government database. This verifies that they are of reduced risk to others.
I can imagine some libertarians objecting to such a thing here, so presumably they would expect to be treated as trustworthy, and not have any incorruptable document certifying their health.

Presumably they're testing whether they actually have the virus or not, otherwise anyone who hasn't had it and doesn't have antibodies would be denied travel ?

 

[AM9]

The police have no mandate to act in the interests of any section of society. They are there to uphold the law. Nothing more. Not to encourage people or cajole them. Just to do their job.

Their job is also to ensure the safety of the public, - not stand aside saying that their hands are tied when the enquiries are held. If the police did effectively allow violation of the restrictions, the great majority who do care about others would rise up and take things into their own hands. That would be a cue for the government to make the letter of the law reflect the spirit of the rules.

 

[Meerkat]

The police have no mandate to act in the interests of any section of society. They are there to uphold the law. Nothing more. Not to encourage people or cajole them. Just to do their job.

You don’t think the police have a mandate to protect the safety of the public?

 

[AM9]

You don’t think the police have a mandate to protect the safety of the public?

Thanks, I was beginning to think that I was alone in thinking that.

 

[bramling]

Oh dear, but here we go. Why not? Road cycling on your own is far more socially isolated than running or walking, you'll go out into quiet country lanes potentially miles from anyone. And I say that having not cycled for a few weeks!

I'd actually prefer the Isle of Man approach - reduce road risk by reducing all top speed limits other than motorways down to 40mph.

I’m normally fairly pro cycling, however the problem we have now is it seems to have become a bandwagon activity for bored people. A colleague was moaning today that on his journey home yesterday he was constantly having to negotiate groups of cyclists. Just what one wants having been up since 0300 in the morning.

I don’t have a problem with someone going out for a solitary ride as their daily exercise - in fact in many ways that’s possibly quite a positive thing to do (apart from perhaps that you’re marginally more likely to end up in A&E than by going for a walk which is generally a safer activity). Like with other aspects of the current situation this isn’t what’s happening - we have families wobbling about on pavements and roads, “roadie” types taking the opportunity to go out for group rides, hoodies riding around for fun, and goodness knows what else. It isn’t the “once daily exercise” but people treating the current situation as a paid leisure holiday, and that’s unacceptable.

Like many things, now is simply not the time. I’d love to have taken the opportunity to get some photos of places like London Bridge High Level with no passengers about. In fact I could do it without being massively foul of the government’s guidance (as it would be part of travel to work and I could sort of make a case for saying it could be an at-work activity, and could quite easily be done whilst maintaining plentiful social distancing). Out of respect for the current situation I haven’t done it and won’t be doing it. There’s too many people trying to look for loopholes or just do as they please.

 

[farleigh]

You don’t think the police have a mandate to protect the safety of the public?

Absolutely by using the law - nothing more.

 

[bramling]

Plus if someone is picking up a "non-essential item in their weekly shop


Presumably they're testing whether they actually have the virus or not, otherwise anyone who hasn't had it and doesn't have antibodies would be denied travel ?

I think all this is a bit ahead of ourselves, as from what I can pick up the scientific opinion seems to be that there’s no guarantee about immunity at present. They think it’s *likely* that there’s *some* immunity, but it’s by no means a certainty.

 

[yorksrob]

I think all this is a bit ahead of ourselves, as from what I can pick up the scientific opinion seems to be that there’s no guarantee about immunity at present. They think it’s *likely* that there’s *some* immunity, but it’s by no means a certainty.

Well, I've not read of anyone coming up with an antibody test yet, which would suggest that that might be the case.

 

[KevinTurvey]

Perhaps cyclists are more law abiding in England, but in Glasgow and majority seem to think it's their god-given right to either use the pavement to circumvent traffic lights or road junctions or to cycle on the pavement regardless.

With the need to keep a greater distance from other people on pavements, these cyclists make it far more awkward and difficult to do so, particularly as many are cycling in groups.

Funnily I have seen a massive increase in pavement cycling in the last two weeks, which annoys me somewhat as the roads are nearly empty.

 

[scotrail158713]

Funnily I have seen a massive increase in pavement cycling in the last two weeks, which annoys me somewhat as the roads are nearly empty.

I’d agree. I ended up temporarily on the road to pass a cyclist when I was out for a run the other day.

 

[hexagon789]

Funnily I have seen a massive increase in pavement cycling in the last two weeks, which annoys me somewhat as the roads are nearly empty.

You are not alone, it annoys me too! Mostly because it makes it more difficult to distance oneself from others on the pavements, but also because half of them play dodge the pedestrians and come quite close to colliding with people

 

[Bletchleyite]

The police have no mandate to act in the interests of any section of society. They are there to uphold the law. Nothing more. Not to encourage people or cajole them. Just to do their job.

That's not entirely true. The Police advise on all sorts of things. Provided they don't try to enforce things that aren't the law, that's fine. I would suggest them stopping people going up to the Lakes etc and explaining why it's a really bad idea and asking them to turn round would be a really good thing for them to do at the moment even if they can't actually apply any legal punishment.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I’d agree. I ended up temporarily on the road to pass a cyclist when I was out for a run the other day.

I wouldn't. I take particular pleasure in timing my walking across crossings in London to ensure that I am blocking any cyclist who appears like they're going to run the lights.

And I'm a cyclist. I just dislike other cyclists who give me a bad name.

Re COVID my rule now on MK Redways (2m wide) is that I will walk right to one side of the path but I will not walk in the grass because people walking or cycling two abreast won't go to single file as they should. If I happen to have COVID (don't think I do) that's their choice.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Well, I've not read of anyone coming up with an antibody test yet, which would suggest that that might be the case.

There will be antibodies, the question is how long they last.

 

[6Gman]

I think the problem with policing items and whether they are essential or not is that it would differ person to person. I've seen people say things like chocolate aren't essential but I know for me it is because it's one of the few things I can actually eat without having any sickness issues

I go shopping for elderly neighbours.

I go in order to buy essentials. Whilst there I will buy non-essentials for them.

I will not go just to buy non-essentials.

That was the point the Chief Constable should have been trying to make.

 

[6Gman]

My word - no one needs to be exercising on a bicycle? How joyless!!

What harm does it do anybody?

Motor cyclists and cyclists have the highest senior injury rates of any road users. I'd be very cautious about activities which can lead to further pressures on the NHS.

That is not to say that I would prohibit either, but I think it's something cyclists (of both types) could ponder.