Note from the editor.
You can scroll past the first 3 pictures to get you to the explanation of the guidance if that’s what you expected but while you’re here… I would love to explain to you a little more about what’s been going on this week and what we’ve been up to behind the scenes apart from sharing memes to keep you entertained on facebook.
I hope you don’t mind me adding a little narrative which is a departure from the brand’s usual style. I would like to urge you to support my local reporting by sending me info about breaking news or events that you’ve managed to get pictures or video of. I can’t attend everything but i do my best to get every job that comes into the inbox. Send me good info and posts you see that are relevant to Blackpool or our region that you see on social media…
newsdesk@thebplbible.co.uk live chat on this website or inbox on facebook.
It’s not just me working on this – there’s now 7 of us on the main team with another freelancer joining us this week. At present none of us are full time employees… In fact we’re all volunteers – So please bear with us as we crank the engine up to keep you all informed of what’s going on.
We’re literally doing this on hopes and dreams and thin air – and we don’t sell papers -we just write for you and curate content on social media for your entertainment – but if we have some subscribers paying £1 a month – it would really help us to get things going.
there’s a clicky thing, pay now button at the bottom of the page – it’s secured with stripe (basically AMEX) or we have a paypal you can sling a donation into so we can buy some PPE and other essential bits and bobs for our reporting. This is literally a self funded project and the last 5 years hasn’t turned a profit. Gods honest truth. never broken even either.
So I would really appreciate it if you would support the team bringing you more news and local affairs without the need to sign up or pay per article like some sites. Right – here’s where the article starts but the simple guidance is still after the third picture. (i won’t be hijacking you again like this I promise… but i figured most of us aren’t going anywhere so a good long read might help pass a bit of time.
If you’ve got any comments – leave them via facebook in the widget at the bottom of the page (it’s secure I set it up myself) and please share this on your social media too – cos there’s good valid info at the bottom of this piece. All the pictures in this article were taken over the last 7 days. Thanks for sticking with me)
The message is clear – Stay home – Protect the NHS – Save lives.
But what is considered reasonable?
Can I go for a walk in the country or in a local park? Can I stop to have some dinner if it’s a long walk or have a rest if i’m not as fit as i thought I was???
The CPS has issued new guidance to police officers which was made available by the NPCC. The guidance seeks to clarify for officers what might likely be treated as a reasonable activity but it also helps to give us a clearer picture of what police will be using as their guide when making decisions.. We must point out that in each case an officers discretion will be used.
Regulation 6 of the The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 states no person may leave the place where they live without a reasonable excuse.
Fact. This is to save lives in the long run. There is no doubt in my mind that this virus is a real danger to us all – I’ve had family members stricken with it and recovered – another who is critical in a hospital and an unexplained death recently which may be attributed to the virus regardless of the cause of death.. I’m taking this extremely seriously as should you too.
Community policing is the key and after speaking today with both Councillor Gerard Walsh and Deputy Police and Crime commissioner Chris Webb – they both agreed that this is a time for unity – building communities and for old fashioned community policing to come to the fore.
I know both these gents personally and didn’t ask them for quotes or statements – I merely had the opportunity to interact with them both whilst they were volunteering in a private capacity as volunteer drivers for Amazing Graze. If i didn’t know them personally – I would have just assumed they were anyone else… They really didn’t make a song and dance about it.
In total the Charity and now food bank delivered 270 meals and food parcels to local vulnerable people spread across the entire town using 40 volunteer drivers who came from all walks of life and circumstances. Business owners – taxi drivers, carers and a good friend of mine Rod who really appreciated the time out and was glad he was doing something to help.
Out and about.
Over the past week I have observed the movements of Lancashire police and can honestly say that I’ve seen a strong presence in the community and along the promenade. I have seen more what looks like officers checking on people that they are ok and are observing the social distancing rules but I’ve see no fines issued personally – more what appears to be a polite conversation and then the officer moves on to the next person.
This is a noticeable change in policing style from the weeks previously – however there do now seem to be more and more people brave enough to venture out into public despite the pleas of the government to stay indoors. It has been confusing for people and police alike – and this new guidance will help us all to comply with the new legislation applied during this crisis.
About the New Guidance
A Spokesperson for the CPS said: “Some public statements made soon after the adoption of the Regulations suggested that members of the public could only leave their homes if ‘essential’ to do so.
“However, this is not the test set out in the Regulations and there is no legal basis for a requirement in those terms to be imposed.
“The applicable threshold is that of ‘reasonable excuse’.”
This list is not exhaustive and officers are required to use their discretion and judgement in deciding what is and what isn’t ‘reasonable’ in the circumstances.
This is also not our opinion or interpretation – it’s literally the copied text from the police guidance.
NECESSITIES
Allowed (Likely reasonable)
– Buying several days’ worth of food, including luxury items and alcohol.
– Buying a small amount of a staple item or necessity (e.g. a newspaper, pet food, a loaf of bread or pint of milk).
– Collecting surplus basic food items from a friend.
– Collecting surplus basic food items from a friend.
Not allowed (Not likely reasonable)
– Buying paint and brushes, simply to redecorate a kitchen.
Why…
There is no need for all a person’s shopping to be basic food supplies; the purchase of snacks and luxuries is still permitted.
In general terms, a person has a reasonable excuse to visit the shops which remain open to customers under the Regulations.
If a person is already out of the address with good reason, then it would not be proportionate to prevent the person from buying nonessential items.
Food could include hot food from takeaways.
‘Obtain’ includes purchasing, but could include collecting or sharing items, provided this is genuine.
Regarding DIY – The regulations specify maintenance and upkeep. This does not extend to renovation and improvements.
EXERCISE
Allowed
– Including: going for a run or cycle or practicing yoga. Walking in the countryside or in cities. Attending an allotment.
– Driving to countryside and walking (where far more time is spent walking than driving).
– Stopping to rest or to eat lunch while on a long walk.
– Exercising more than once per day – the only relevant consideration is whether repeated exercise on the same day can be considered a ‘reasonable excuse’ for leaving home.
Not allowed
– Driving for a prolonged period with only brief exercise.
– A short walk to a park bench, when the person remains seated for a much longer period.
Why…
Exercise can come in many forms, including walks.
Exercise must involve some movement, but it is acceptable for a person to stop for a break in exercise.
However, a very short period of ‘exercise’ to excuse a long period of inactivity may mean that the person is not engaged in ‘exercise’ but in fact something else.
It is lawful to drive for exercise.
WORK
Allowed
– A key worker or other essential worker travelling to work where it is not reasonably possible to work from home.
– A non-key worker or non-essential key worker travelling to work where it is not reasonably possible to work from home.
– A person delivering food packages to vulnerable people.
Not allowed
– A person who can work from home choosing to work in a local park.
– A person knocking on doors offering to do cash-in-hand work.
Why…
There is no requirement to be a key worker or essential worker in order to travel to work.
Anyone can travel to work if it is not reasonably possible to work from home.
A request from an employer to attend the work place should be sufficient.
But there is no requirement for the person to have any written proof of a need to go to work or volunteering.
Police should not ask for ID documents or any other kind of document.
There is no requirement for volunteers to work for a registered organisation or charity.
There is no requirement for the volunteering to be related to COVID-19.
OTHER REASONS
Likely reasonable
– Taking an animal for treatment.
– Moving to a friend’s address for several days to allow a ‘cooling-off’ following arguments at home.
– Providing support to vulnerable people.
Not allowed
– Visiting a vet’s surgery in person to renew a prescription (where this could be done over the phone).
– Visiting a friend in their address or meeting in public to socialise.
Why…
Vet’s surgeries remain open and so taking an animal for emergency treatment would qualify as a good reason (as the owner has a duty to preserve welfare). But visiting a vet’s surgery where a call would suffice would not be reasonable.
The Regulations allow people to move house. This means that individuals can move between households. But this should be a genuine move (i.e. measured in days, not hours).
Social visits are not generally a good reason to leave home. However, there may be exceptional circumstances for a person to visit another (eg, a hospital authorising a particular person to visit).
HELPFUL LINKS
Link to our recent HELP guide…
Local businesses still operating during this Pandemic.
TAKEAWAYS AND HOT FOOD DELIVERY
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