Group from Chiswick Defend Surrey Trip as 'Cheeky'
Local police issuing fines to non-county residents for unnecessary journeys
A police roadside stop (pre-outbreak). Picture: David Hawgood
A group of people from Chiswick have been issued with a fine by Surrey Police after a roadside spot check revealed that they had made an unnecessary journey to the county. The police say that when questioned a member of the group said they were ‘just being a bit cheeky’.
The majority of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued in the county over the Easter weekend were given to people who aren’t residents and have travelled into the county. Across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Roads Policing Officers across Surrey and Sussex carried out 49 stop checks. The vast majority of these resulted in advice being given around social distancing
In total from all incidents reported to Surrey Police over Friday-Sunday, almost 90 FPNS had to be issued. Surrey Police say this represents a tiny proportion of the overall number of interactions their officers had over the weekend, the vast majority of which were positive. In most cases officer gave encouragement and advice to members of the public to follow government advice and relevant legislation,
Officers engage with members of the public in the first instance, and explain the importance of following the government advice, to protect public health and the NHS. If members of the public ignore the encouragement to observe the legislation given by the officers, only then will enforcement action be considered.
They had to deploy a drone to break up a group of 30 people not observing social distancing in Walton-on-Thames on Friday 10 April. They say this method of communicating without physically putting officers at additional risk by approaching them was effective and the group left without officers having to take further action.
If required, the drone will direct large groups of people congregating in outdoor spaces to leave the area by playing a pre-recorded message of “Attention this a Police message. You are gathering in breach of government guidelines to stay at home in response to the coronavirus. You are putting lives at risk. Please disperse immediately and return home.” The use of a drone has been used by Surrey Police and Sussex Police since the introduction of the new legislation.
On Friday, Surrey Police was called to Box Hill, a popular Surrey beauty spot, after receiving reports of a number of cyclists ignoring road closures and social distancing restrictions. Officers intervened with riders cycling along the Zig Zag Road before re-establishing road closures.
Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said: “There have been hot spots where we have needed to take action, such as in Walton-on-Thames and at Box Hill, but these have been dealt with quickly and effectively by our officers engaging with those involved.“
Under government regulations, you should only leave the house for very limited purposes:
Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household
Any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
Travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home
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April 14, 2020