Yahoo News Coronavirus: Family stopped on 250-mile day trip to Lake District ‘thought it was okay if they wore masks and gloves’
A family from Middlesex who were intercepted by police on their way to a Lake District holiday told officers they thought their activities were allowed since they were “wearing masks and gloves”.
Despite the nationwide coronavirus lockdown still being in place, Lancashire Road Police tweeted on Friday that they had stopped the family attempting to make a 250-mile round day trip from their home in southern England.
“A family from Middlesex stopped travelling to the Lake District for a day out?” the force tweeted.
“They thought if they wore masks and gloves this would be acceptable #stayathome #protectthenhs #savelives.
Morning folks, just to re-iterate our message, please stay at home whenever possible over this Easter weekend. We realise it’s tough but it’s vital that people stay at home, save lives and protect our fantastic NHS.
— Lancs Road Police (@LancsRoadPolice) April 10, 2020
“Turned around and sent home with paperwork to remember their non essential journey.”
Lancashire Police have been extremely busy dealing with non-essential travel during the coronavirus lockdown.
Ahead of the sunny bank holiday weekend, the force tweeted a reminder that people should remain at home where possible.
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“Just to re-iterate our message, please stay at home whenever possible over this Easter weekend,” they said.
“We realise it’s tough but it’s vital that people stay at home, save lives and protect our fantastic NHS.
The government guidance generally urges the public to avoid unnecessary trips out of doors where possible in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.
But there has been confusion over what can be enforced by police and what actually constitutes breaking the law.
The government has urged people to “stay local” when out exercising and only use open spaces near their homes where possible, keeping at least two metres apart from anyone they do not live with.
Some police forces said the public should not go out for a drive or use their car to travel to exercise.
But the National Police Chiefs’ Council said there is nothing “definitive” in the legislation on this, although it urged the public to be “sensible”.
The legislation does not address the use of cars or vehicles at all and does not forbid members of the public from using their cars to “go for a drive” or travel to a location by car to exercise.
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