Carer, 19, left in tears by curtain twitching snitch
She’s stopped by police after local busybody said she broke lockdown
A CARER was left in tears when she was pulled over by police after a nosy neighbour falsely accused her of breaking lockdown rules.
Rebecca Fraser left her home in her work uniform and was driving on her morning round on Friday when she was pulled over.
The 19-year-old said police had been tipped off by a neighbour in Kingseat, Dunfermline, Fife, who wrongly believed she was breaking strict rules on staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Miss Fraser said: ‘I was distraught, it was horrible. At the end of the day it’s nobody else’s business. When I leave my house I wear my uniform, so it is clear what I do for work, but the complaint was still made.’
The teenager, who lives with her grandparents, left before 7am and was challenged by the officers shortly afterwards.
She said that since starting her carer job three months ago, just before the coronavirus pandemic, she had been stopped on one other occasion during lockdown, when police were carrying out spot checks – but this time the complaint was targeted at her.
Miss Fraser said: ‘I left about 6.40am and was on my morning round when I saw the police drive past me then pull back on themselves and put their blue lights on.
‘At first I thought it was another spot check because of the lockdown but they informed me a neighbour had made the call as a “matter of urgency” because the number of outings I was making was unnecessary – according to them.
‘I had to show them my details and confirm my personal information – where I was born and who I work for.’ She described being left ‘in tears’ by the incident.
Miss Fraser said: ‘After they left I started thinking, why would anyone go out their way to do that, and have someone stopped during their working hours because you do not know what they are doing. It made me angry.’
She said the complaint was made not long after she left the house, making her believe someone had been looking out for her.
Miss Fraser added: ‘I don’t know if it is because I am young and most people presume carers are older, but it can be anyone’s career path.’
In total, 32 of the 45 police forces in the UK now have special forms on their websites where citizens can report breaches of laws designed to ensure social distancing.
But there are growing fears among some police chiefs that too many people are snitching on their neighbours for leaving their homes.
Last week, four people who did break lockdown rules were rescued and then fined after getting stranded on Cramond Island, in the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh. A 28-year-old woman and three men, aged 26, 31 and 32, were cut off by the tide.
The penalties are £60, cut to £30 if paid within 28 days.
Police Scotland yesterday declined to comment and could find no record of a complaint against Miss Fraser.