After watching the video that Col mentioned.....it seems to me the woman in question was being quite reasonable.....keeping a safe distance.....on her own....not giving her details of name and address (as is your right to withhold)....being polite at all times. Why’s she so wrong ? Can anyone on here honestly say they haven’t bought something at the shops during this that could be deemed as non-essential ? Anyone ? If not then you’re the biggest hypocrites there are
Vilified by a torch bearing mob? Come on mate. I agree that some rozzers have been pathetically over the top, but those people you refer to can go out and about can't they? I think the example you gave is a silly one with all due respect. If too many people just stay still you'll end up with too many congregating. But then you knew that didn't you? I think there's more to worry about going forward than some faux complaining about civil liberties.
Anyway.....going on for my run now....I’ll be sure not to stop at anytime so as to avoid the ‘flaming torch brigade’.....’Burn the witch !!’
With all due respect mate, I think you're going way over the top. But anyway, we'll just agree to differ eh? Stay safe.
Mate I’m not having a go at you or anyone in here particularly, however in some sections of the press and social media it IS becoming of a ‘hate mob. My point, however silly it might seem, is that the law should be the law....and should not be held up to the interpretation of individual officers....this has been ill thought out and thus leads to problems and inconsistencies that I’ve mentioned. They’ll be threatening to check our shopping baskets next....oh wait....they already have
You are misunderstanding the guidelines. They've already said that people are entitled to buy whatever they want, along with essentials obviously.
Sorry Col, they’ve said essential shopping only in numerous occasions.....food and medicines. Never mentioned at all that you can buy 3 for £10 Easter eggs and a bottle of Merlot. Some may think that essential but as I say...it’s not about interpretation
Yes and the idiot officers who did this have been reprimanded. It can't be perfect can it in these extraordinary times? I genuinely think (not you) that some people just want to make the whole situation even more difficult.
You've lost me Col. I’ve just googled ‘ Dorset police FAQs’ and it specifically states.... ‘Shopping for basic necessities, eg food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible’ What do you feel is a basic necessity? We might disagree on the list but then again we might have different interpretations.
As I said Col......and we’ll have to just disagree on it......it’s a point of principle and I don’t trust the government to not try and sneak in a few more ‘loss of liberties’ if they can.
The authorities have also said that we are allowed to purchase whatever we want, but I think they're discouraging a trip out just to buy unessential stuff. Really mate. It ain't rocket science. Some coppers are being twats is all (along with a lot of the population).
Serious question, have either of you been challenged by the police or other members of the public as you go about your exercise, or go for your second walk of the day? For full transparency I’m out twice a day, either with the dog or (every other day) for a decrepit style jog. I’m also under the impression that you are allowed to buy anything you want from any shop that is open (ie food shops and pharmacies) subject to volume restrictions placed by the retailers themselves. I haven’t seen any over officious policing over the last three weeks, and nobody has told me that my little bag of healthy seeds from Waitrose (or the six bottles of wine) aren’t essential, all I’m seeing is news stories about heavy handed policing, not (probably because I don’t do social media) any of this mob of people demanding that you don’t go anywhere. Am I just lucky?
I'm not restricting myself to one exercise outing a day, or one shopping trip a week (if that's the rule) and when I am out I may sit down for a bit. I'm also going to work now and then. Keeping more than two metres at all times, though.
So there you have it. Buy what you want to . 00:03 01:23 Coronavirus: Government confirms shops can sell whatever they have in stock, after police criticised for patrolling 'non-essential aisles' in supermarket Police forced to backtrack after conducting supermarket patrols and threatening to search shoppers’ trollies Harry Cockburn 23 hours ago 44 comments The government has confirmed shops currently permitted to open are allowed to sell whatever they have in stock. The statement from No 10 comes after Cambridgeshire Police were criticised for appearing to be policing which items people are deciding to buy at supermarkets, and Northamptonshire Police said they could start searching shopping trolleys. After conducting a patrol of a Tesco in Barhill, northwest of Cambridge, the police wrote on Twitter: “Good to see everyone was abiding by social distancing measures and the non-essential aisles were empty.” The tweet prompted an angry backlash with many people pointing out the police were not in a position to make decisions on which items may or may not be essential. The tweet was then deleted, and the force issued a statement saying an “over exuberant officer” was to blame for the tweet. please log in to view this image Tracking the coronavirus outbreak around the world in maps and charts please log in to view this image When can we really expect coronavirus to end? please log in to view this image Everything you need to know on supermarket delivery slots please log in to view this image The dirty truth about washing your hands please log in to view this image Listen to the latest episode of The Independent Coronavirus Podcast The incident comes days after a row over whether convenience stores should be allowed to sell Easter Eggs, after some shops were told by police chocolate eggs are considered non-essential goods. Hours before Cambridgeshire police tweeted about the “non-essential aisles”, they had tweeted messages of thanks for chocolate gifts members of the public had given them – presumably bought from shops during lockdown. The tweet was subsequently deleted On Thursday, Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable Nick Adderley said if people continued to flout restrictions, his officers would set up roadblocks and could even start searching people’s shopping trolleys. please log in to view this image ✕ Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he added: “If things don’t improve, and we don’t get the compliance we would expect, then the next stage will be road blocks and it will be stopping people to ask why they are going, where they’re going.” The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “We’ve set out a list of shops which could remain open, and if the shops are on that list then they’re free to sell whatever they have in stock, obviously provided it’s legal to do so.” Daily coronavirus briefing Continue Register with your social account or I would like to receive morning headlinesMonday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email The list of businesses and venues allowed open has been published online by the government. South Yorkshire Police has also apologised on Friday after an officer told a family they were not allowed on their own front garden during the Covid-19 lockdown. Footage of the encounter in Eastwood, Rotherham, showed an officer ordering a couple and their young children to stay inside their two-bedroom terraced home. The government has imposed unprecedented restrictions on the British public in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus, but there are significant differences between the government’s guidance, and the laws that can be enforced by the police with fines and criminal proceedings. Read The Independent’s guide to what you can and can’t do under the new laws.
Seems perfectly reasonable to me and doesn't contravene any guidance presuming that you're unable to work from home. I would refrain from using the tube though.
There's always grey areas that people like to exploit but fortunately 99% of the general public seem to understand whats being asked of them.
