People wanting exercise urged to be sensible and avoid travelling for it
HUMBERSIDE Police has issued a statement to th those thinking of travelling to take their ex exercise during lockdown. There has b been much debate about how f far people can travel for fitnes fitness during the third lockdow down and what would be dee deemed as a breach of the ru rule. It comes after large crowds w were seen along Cleethorpes beach at the weekend, suggesting people have been travelling to the resort.
And in Derbyshire, police fined two women for travelling five miles to a reservoir for a walk.
While there does not seem to be consistency across the country when it comes to enforcement, there is a hardening of the rhetoric from some police forces who are getting tired of the number of people breaching the rules during the coronavirus pandemic. However, when it comes to exercise, Humberside Police say they will take a less heavy-handed approach and speak to anyone they believe maybe take the guidance too far.
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Anderson said: “The latest government regulations don’t stipulate a set distance with regards to exercise and therefore, as has been our policing style throughout the pandemic, our officers will individually assess every situation they come across, using enforcement as a last resort when appropriate.
“Our approach of ‘Engage, Explain and Encourage’ has worked well throughout last year.
“It will be our continued approach when assessing reports of breaches, or when out and about and speaking to those that are out.”
Officers will continue to fine parents if their children are consistently breaching guidelines but the force says breaches so far have been across a wide range of ages and demographics, not just young people. However, following the large crowds spotted walking along Cleethorpes’ Central Promenade over the weekend, Councillor Oliver Freeston is reminding people to think of others like they did during the first lockdown.
He said: “We’ve just lost our sense of togetherness, really.
“At the start of the first lockdown we were all staying at home, applauding the NHS, and doing our best to stop the spread of Covid-19. We need to work together to keep cases down in our area.
“It’s unusual for a Cleethorpes councillor to tell you to avoid Cleethorpes beach and putting money into the town, but it’s what we need right now. “When it comes to exercise, you shouldn’t take the mick with it and just head out to your nearby parks and other walking routes in your local area. “You shouldn’t really be driving to go and exercise.”