2 sunbathers defying the Government’s lockdown restrictions – including 1 who has already received a fine – were moved on by Police in Sandown today (Thursday).
PCSO Fiona was patrolling The Bay area when she came across the duo catching some rays in Los Altos Park.
Sunbathing is not permitted under the lockdown rules, which have this evening been extended by 3 weeks until 7th May.
The individuals were told to disperse from the area.
If these people were observing social distancing what precisely is the issue? Surely enforced movement is making matters worse, not better?
i agree with Tim, these people may have NO outside space so why not sit in the park? So long as the social distancing is observed there is not a problem. Sounds a bit heavy handed by the police I think! You need sunlight for you mental well being and health so give them a break huh?
Because if other people see people sitting around they will do the same ….then social distancing wont be happening ….
Ha ha, you think that’s heavy handed,wait till they really get going,and introduce social credit. And for those saying,that’s in China. Yes, but now China has just joined theUN human rights committee,watch this space. Watching with interest.
Nothing like Brighton at weekend. People were coming from Bedford and Birmingham after seeing pictures on the BBC. Brighton cops booked over 100
The ones who keep breaking the rules over and over should get in a lot more trouble. Then again saying that I’m lucky to have a garden. I cannot imagine living somewhere with no outside space at a time like this.
And they want to lift restrictions for these younger people first – oh no no no . We older ones are more sensible and have been behaving ourselves by not going out and they are going to punish us for longer. I don’t think so
I’m with you janet
This is why you go walking ….no one likes it …I have a son with a learning disability and he can even understand the lock down rules so why cant these people
Well done to PCSO Fiona. Are these people who are going out and sunbathing while the whole country and still others in the world are on a lockdown, really so thick they think the rules don’t apply to them…. Geeese! When are people gonna wake up and realise their actions have consequences
“Well done to PCSO Fiona”, hardly a great effort to ‘do’ someone just enjoying a little bit of Spring sunshine, harming no one.
Many female police officers are pointless, only there to keep the gender quota watchers satisfied, and little use in aggressive situations, whereby the male officers will be spending attention protecting the women police officers.
Whilst helpful in rape cases, child abuse, and returning lost dogs etc, if this is the level of their ability, then I feel we need more physically stronger male police officers to keep law and order in these violent times. Most of us wouldn’t want our wives or daughters in the front line of criminal activity, so less women more men, and forget being a P.C PC.
opinions matter – everyone with a garden has been sunbathing – those in flats need to get sunshine – vitamin d3 is essential to good health and viruses hate sunlight.
you sit in the dark if you want to –
are you saying that only the wealthy with a garden can get sunshine. Poor people in flats are not allowed – is that what you are saying.
Having already received one ticket, this person has obviously decided that they can get away with it, so should have been given another ticket immediately.
Fine them first time lock them up second time job done
Well done Fiona. I really do not know what is going through these people’s minds. There’s a few defying people on the Sandown and Shanklin golf course so you might want to check that out as well. When the government says stay at home they do not mean go out and sunbathe. Please respect the government and do what you are told. Stay at home!
What rubbish.The rules don’t say anything about sunbathing not being allowed. It just says don’t congregate in a crowd therefore two people sunbathing in a park is OK as long as they were more than two meters apart if they were from different households. Yet more heavy handed police with nothing better to do.
Well… Only essential travel and 1 exercise is permitted. Sunbathing is neither hahahaha
Sunbathing is not mentioned in the ‘rules’
Before you condemn people like this think about why they might be doing it and what it means.
It may not be permitted but the only scientific evidence is that getting sufficient exposure to the sun has a positive effect.
Arguments that “everyone will do it and cause overcrowding” are rubbish – people being too close are the problem, not that act of sunbathing or picnicking.
Arbitrary rules brought in for administrative convenience without any scientific justification undermine support for the key message of social distancing.
We will beat the virus by keeping appropriate distancing, proper hygiene and avoiding contact – staying inside will achieve that but is not the only way to do it.
If sunbathing and picnics in the park were allowed there WOULD be a massive problem of social crowding therefore spreading disease. We are only allowed out to exercise, shop and chemist, NOT laying around in a park!
Exactly. Its simple. Tell everyone sunbathing is fine and all the beaches and parks would suddenly look like Benidorm in the high season. Social distancing would go out of the window because the crowds would make it impossible. And in any case 2m is not enough, Its been shown that its more like 5m is needed to be reasonably safe, especially when joggers and cyclists are panting along the road. Airbourne particles from a person stay in the air and move around with the wind. A beach or park full of sunbathers is asking for trouble? Two people eing stopped subathing in a park may seem extreme, but they are being selfish and antisocial. The rule is for everyone.
So set a limit of 5m between sunbathers etc. and fine those who ignore it.
I’m sure you wouldn’t put others at risk by getting too close. Neither would I or, in fact, anyone I know.
Contrary to your implication, the majority of us are not irresponsible idiots who can’t be trusted to utilise an open space responsibly.
I stick by my argument that if rules seem excessive or unjustified many will resent and ultimately attempt to circumvent them.
You seem to have a very low opinion of the ability of your friends and neighbours to behave responsibly.
Long as your two metres apart then I don’t see the problem!!
Was PCSO Fiona further than two metres when dishing out the ticket then?