Force criticises Peak District hikers who got stuck in snow

HIKERS who got stuck in the snow after travelling for a walk despite lockdown rules have been branded as “stupid” by police.

The Derbyshire force, which made headlines during the first national lockdown for its tough stance against walkers, said most of its rural crime team had been sent to deal with calls relating to the snow in the Peak District.

In a post on social media, the force said around 200 cars were parked in an area known as the Snake Pass summit on Saturday, despite the forecast snow.

“Presumably, the occupants of these vehicles were out on the moors,” the post said.

“It seems like many didn’t have the common sense to check the forecast, dress themselves suitably, check they had a capable vehicle and/or driving skills, never mind the fact that they perhaps shouldn’t have been stretching the advice given by the government so as not to overburden our NHS.

“Never mind, though. Just ring the police and expect them to come along with their magical snowmobiles.”

The post suggested the force was not “Covid-proof ” and did not have the resources to respond to similar incidents across the Peak District.

It continued: “Joking aside, please don’t be stupid. It shouldn’t need a greater explanation than that.

“Hopefully, the evening won’t deteriorate into a mass of emergencies. We’ll deal with what we can, but our underpants aren’t on the outside and we can only knock so much common sense back into society.”

Derbyshire Police was previously criticised for its heavy-handed approach to people who had left their homes to go for a walk in the Peak Dis

trict during the first lockdown.

A now infamous video shot by a police drone followed ramblers and dog walkers at a beauty spot, questioning whether their journeys were essential.

Later in the pandemic, the force dyed a quarry pool black to make its blue waters less inviting for swimmers.

Buxton Safer Neighbourhood Team, part of Derbyshire Police, carried out the operation in March after they received reports of people gathering at the picturesque spot.