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

[greyman42]

Merseyside Police are also being quite ruthless towards people exercising along their coastal areas - such as Southport, Crosby, New Brighton & West Kirkby.

Why? What is wrong with exercising in this area?

 

[Iskra]

Depending how you make that point you may or may not fail the "attitude test".

The "attitude test" is not something formal nor written and carries no legislation. The effect of it is simply that if it is "passed", the person dealing with you may well choose to use their discretion not to use the enforcement mechanisms available to them.

To add to this, it works in most walks of life. If you are pleasant and polite; things get done quicker, issues are overcome quicker and discretion is exercised more willingly.

 

[BayPaul]

I'm surprised no-one has up to now mentionned the obvious way of deciding whether or not leaving the house is reasonable.

Surely it should be whatever the opinion is of the person not currently on the top deck of the Clapham Omnibus, as they are following government rules and advice and staying at home

 

[Haywain]

Yes she is not your typical old style police officer. Things have changed since Z-Cars and Dixon of Dock Green.

Or Juliet Bravo?

 

[martin2345uk]

First one out of the door should be Rachel Swann their Deputy Chief Constable - she actually looks like Sonic the Hedgehog!

I was actually quite shocked when I saw her on the news last year during the Whalley Bridge dam disaster. I believe in diversity & how it should be expressed but there has to be a limit in standards of appearance for a senior police officer who should be representing the rank & file of a professional organisation.

CJ

Hoping you are not implying you want her sacked because of how she does her hair...

 

[westv]

I'm surprised no-one has up to now mentionned the obvious way of deciding whether or not leaving the house is reasonable.

Surely it should be whatever the opinion is of the person not currently on the top deck of the Clapham Omnibus, as they are following government rules and advice and staying at home

We could also ask that person in Tonbridge Wells but as they are disgusted anyway their opinion might be biased.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I agree with all this. Don't see why responsibly exercising in the countryside is an issue, providing distance is maintained and you are staying local. It's the one thing you can still do and it's healthy.

Because it contravenes the advice on non-essential travel. You don't need to drive from Sheffield to Bakewell to get some exercise.

 

[Iskra]

Because it contravenes the advice on non-essential travel. You don't need to drive from Sheffield to Bakewell to get some exercise.

I agree, but there are plenty of nice countryside and reservoirs on the edge of Sheffield and there are even country walks that start from Sheffield city centre. Where do you draw the line on where a Sheffield resident can go?

 

[Bletchleyite]

To add to this, it works in most walks of life. If you are pleasant and polite; things get done quicker, issues are overcome quicker and discretion is exercised more willingly.

Absolutely, it works with me too. Ask me nicely and I'll fall over myself to help you, probably beyond what you ask for. Be rude to me and you get your legal/contractual entitlement and nothing else.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I agree, but there are plenty of nice countryside and reservoirs on the edge of Sheffield and there are even country walks that start from Sheffield city centre. Where do you draw the line on where a Sheffield resident can go?

Just use a bit of common sense, or a limit like France (1km) will end up being imposed and we really don't want that.

Basically, can you (not "do you want to") exercise safely from home? If so, do. If not, drive to the nearest sensible place where you can. If you get to that place and find more than a car or two parked, you chose wrongly, try somewhere different.

If Easter weekend ends up looking like the weekend before last, we'll get total lockdown, and we'll have deserved it.

 

[trainophile]

Why? What is wrong with exercising in this area?

I was wondering that. Surely if the promenade is close to your home it's logical to walk there. Unless they are just being total killjoys.

 

[sheff1]

The law is unclear - you shouldn’t leave your house unless it is essential, without defining essential.

Have you even read the Regulations ? There is no mention of only leaving home "unless it is essential".

I am still unclear why people seem to have the view that Derbyshire Police are being unreasonable.

Even after the NPCC issued guidance stating it is NOT illegal to drive to somewhere to exercise, Derbyshire Police have been putting leaflets on cars stating it is. The leaflet also states you are only allowed to exercise once a day (another falsehood).

EDIT ..... but, in Glossop at least, they have seen the error of their ways - or someone has come down on them like a ton of bricks. A revised leaflet has now been published on their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/GlossopdaleSNT/photos/pcb.2871073159646642/2871072956313329/?type=3&theater
" We have updated and revised our poster that was previously posted. 'Did You Need to Drive Here' Making unnecessary trips can increase the spread of the coronavirus(COVID-19), increase your likelihood of being involved in a road traffic incident and potentially cause more issues for already stretched emergency services. Consider if you need to make your trip, and if you can exercise closer to your home, then please do so. Help us to fight the spread of this virus #StayHomeSaveLives Thank You"

 

[AM9]

I was wondering that. Surely if the promenade is close to your home it's logical to walk there. Unless they are just being total killjoys.

It's not the locals that are the problem. It's those that drive from outside the area, who, once it becomes known that exercising is OK there, will jump into their cars for a day out at the seaside.

 

[trainophile]

It's not the locals that are the problem. It's those that drive from outside the area, who, once it becomes known that exercising is OK there, will jump into their cars for a day out at the seaside.

Thanks, yes that makes sense. Have to carry a utility bill when out then, to prove where you've come from.

 

[Busaholic]

Can someone a lot more intelligent than me explain why banks, Post Offices and launderettes are allowed to remain open, yet my going outside my front door doesn't allow me to avail myself of these facilities? I could of course allow my daily exercise ration to incorporate this, but as my visit to the launderette would of necessity involve two sets of bedding, as I have no drying facilities at home beyond the most basic, I have to use the car to get there, and the launderette is even having a special 'senior's hour' once a week which I'll avoid like the plague.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thanks, yes that makes sense. Have to carry a utility bill when out then, to prove where you've come from.

If you're in a car your driving licence might be easier! If you're on foot, then, you're fine.

 

[squizzler]

Now that we cannot go to the airport, 'security theatre' need somewhere to ply their trade.

You don't need to drive from Sheffield to Bakewell to get some exercise.

Depends if you know a nice tart there.

I'll get my coat.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Can someone a lot more intelligent than me explain why banks, Post Offices and launderettes are allowed to remain open, yet my going outside my front door doesn't allow me to avail myself of these facilities?

In what way does it not?

 

[AM9]

It's not the locals that are the problem. It's those that drive from outside the area, who, once it becomes known that exercising is OK there, will jump into their cars for a day out at the seaside.

In the case of seaside and other popular tourist locations, if this behaviour isn't stamped out it will become a far worse problem when better weather is with us. However much the Government's emergency legislation currently give some the inspiration to ignore the spirit of its intentions, if the course of infections and deaths does rise to unmanageable levels, the Executive, Parliament and the enforcement authorities have a whole lot more scope to tighten up on the detail and even go places with new laws that would achieve adequate compliance, which the majority who aren't failing to get the message would probably not object to as much as some presume.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

It's not the locals that are the problem. It's those that drive from outside the area, who, once it becomes known that exercising is OK there, will jump into their cars for a day out at the seaside.

Why would anyone want a day out at the seaside right now when all the pubs, cafes, amusements and rides are shut?

 

[bussnapperwm]

Can someone a lot more intelligent than me explain why banks, Post Offices and launderettes are allowed to remain open, yet my going outside my front door doesn't allow me to avail myself of these facilities? I could of course allow my daily exercise ration to incorporate this, but as my visit to the launderette would of necessity involve two sets of bedding, as I have no drying facilities at home beyond the most basic, I have to use the car to get there, and the launderette is even having a special 'senior's hour' once a week which I'll avoid like the plague.

You are allowed to visit those places by foot, bus, train, taxi, private car or even teleportation. The are (in law) three examples of reasonable excuse to leave the boundaries of one's property.

 

[PHILIPE]

From what we have been reading lots of young people are just taking no notice of the lockdown, not interested in separation.

 

[Iskra]

Absolutely, it works with me too. Ask me nicely and I'll fall over myself to help you, probably beyond what you ask for. Be rude to me and you get your legal/contractual entitlement and nothing else.

Same here

 

[Bletchleyite]

You are allowed to visit those places by foot, bus, train, taxi, private car or even teleportation. The are (in law) three examples of reasonable excuse to leave the boundaries of one's property.

I think I'd apply an essentialness test to those things themselves. For instance, it's probably not essential to go to the post office to post something you've flogged on eBay as an individual because you don't really want it, but if eBay is your business and without it you don't eat that might be more justified. I'd struggle to think of a case of going to a launderette that wasn't essential. Regarding a bank, it's probably essential if you don't have online/telephone banking and need to discuss something important e.g. an extension to your overdraft so you can weather the virus with less income, but probably less so if you want to arrange a personal loan for buying a car you've not even looked at yet and your existing one is working fine.

It just requires a bit of common sense. Essentially, can you (not do you want to, can you) do the thing required (not desired, required) without leaving the house or other parts of your own land e.g. garden? If so, you should not go out. If you can't, you've got a good reason.

 

[Iskra]

From what we have been reading lots of young people are just taking no notice of the lockdown, not interested in separation.

That’s not the case from what I can see, and at first it was the over 70’s who were doggedly refusing to change their habits despite being most at risk.

It all seems quite well observed now.

 

[AM9]

In what way does it not?

I walked to the bank today, I kept at least 2m away from everybody both in the bank and throughout the whole 4.5KM walk. I don't think that there is a Launderette in the centre of St Albans, but I passed the main Post Office and could have gone in if I had a need to.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I walked to the bank today, I kept at least 2m away from everybody both in the bank and throughout the whole 4.5KM walk. I don't think that there is a Launderette in the centre of St Albans, but I passed the main Post Office and could have gone in if I had a need to.

Quite a lot of Tesco Express type stores contain a post office. Combining shopping with posting something seems a very good idea.

 

[sheff1]

From what we have been reading lots of young people are just taking no notice of the lockdown, not interested in separation.

Where have "we" been reading this ? No evidence of such behaviour around here.

 

[AM9]

Why would anyone want a day out at the seaside right now when all the pubs, cafes, amusements and rides are shut?

That wouldn't stop some.

 

[ashkeba]

Why would anyone want a day out at the seaside right now when all the pubs, cafes, amusements and rides are shut?

The beach is still beautiful. Other countries have closed their beaches.