Surfing is OK then ?

Quiddle said:
Your link refers to advice, not instructions, from D&CP, and nowhere does it state "You can't drive to go swimming or surfing".
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Big difference obviously between "cannot" and "should not". Here is another "should not":
In line with the advice from the government, Surfing England are recommending we do not go surfing at this time. Instead use our surfcams to as a way to enjoy views of Cornwall. Now is the time to stay at home, stay safe and support those around you. There will be plenty of waves on the other side. Stay safe.

I quite agree that actual surfing is about as low risk as one can get, and probably much safer from a virus transmission angle than other sports. But what about the car parks, the showers the loos etc etc?
IMHO, this is showing up the difference between being responsible and irresponsible.
 
Mission creep this afternoon along Brighton Seafront - coming home from work just after 5 there were significant numbers on the beach, sunbathing and even the odd naturist parading around (why do they do that?) and the hint of skunk weed in the air. Ah, Brighton! Don't get me wrong it wasn't crowded by any stretch but I do not envy the police having to deal with it,,,
 
To me it looks like the lockdown is being phased out with the minimum of fuss.

I've just returned from a 2 week stint offshore, so saw the beginning of the lockdown with roadblocks, drones, police everywhere & sod all traffic on the roads. Read a lot of reports of people being moved on and questioned. On my drive to work I was stopped twice.

Today I was out for my daily exercise and traffic wasn't far off a normal Thursday. Beach car parks were full and no police in sight. Plenty of people 'exercising' in groups & sunbathing.

Also got an email today from a boatyard I've used in the past stating that although the yard is closed to the public, boat-owners are welcome both afloat & ashore. They will also splash and haul out if requested to do so.

It's debatable whether the government wanted the public to lock down as much as we did. The restrictions on attending school for example were very loose initially, and only hardened up by the schools themselves. Likewise the police seemed very keen on interpreting guidelines in the strictest possible way until rebuked by ministers.

I think the government has decided it cannot just lift restrictions as there will be huge repercussions if the waste hits the macerator, but would instead prefer it to happen 'organically' so no-one can be held accountable.
 
We walked down to the boat today and did some cleaning. We could leave the marina and sail back to our mooring - about 2 hours-and save a pile of money.
We don’t feel we can as it isn’t an essential journey - like almost all the journeys I’ve been on since lockdown, I mean we wouldn’t have starved but would have been living on peas and lentils.
Id have felt really guilty going for a nice sail and saving a few bob while so many others are really struggling and that’s before the shame and guilt I’d feel if something had gone wrong and I needed to call for help.
 
Triassic said:
He might not, but then again he might..... unless of course you in a position to categorically speak on behalf of Devon and Cornwall police? It doesn't have to be an "essential journey" it just has to be reasonable and it's been held to be reasonable to drive somewhere for the purpose of taking exercise there.

Just out of interest if instead of a surfboard on the roof it was a bicycle and he was driving out of town to enjoy a ride in the countryside would that be any different?
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My guess is that if an officer from the Devon and Cornwall police stopped you with a surfboard on your roof, that might be what he wanted to give you advice etc about. Of course he might simply want to know your opinion on whether the jam or the cream goes on top... But that's nothing to do with their official advice about the lockdown.

On bikes, yes there is a difference. Their guidance specifically addresses driving to swim or surf. It doesn't cover driving to bike.

But in an interview the Chief Constable was very clear on travelling into his area for exercise. He doesn't want people to do it.
 
James_Calvert said:
My guess is that if an officer from the Devon and Cornwall police stopped you with a surfboard on your roof, that might be what he wanted to give you advice etc about. Of course he might simply want to know your opinion on whether the jam or the cream goes on top... But that's nothing to do with their official advice about the lockdown.

On bikes, yes there is a difference. Their guidance specifically addresses driving to swim or surf. It doesn't cover driving to bike.

But in an interview the Chief Constable was very clear on travelling into his area for exercise. He doesn't want people to do it.
Click to expand...

According to various "social media" sources, D&C Police are handing out a lot of penalties.
 
James_Calvert said:
My guess is that if an officer from the Devon and Cornwall police stopped you with a surfboard on your roof, that might be what he wanted to give you advice etc about. Of course he might simply want to know your opinion on whether the jam or the cream goes on top... But that's nothing to do with their official advice about the lockdown.

On bikes, yes there is a difference. Their guidance specifically addresses driving to swim or surf. It doesn't cover driving to bike.

But in an interview the Chief Constable was very clear on travelling into his area for exercise. He doesn't want people to do it.
Click to expand...

Yes, his interview has caused quite a kerfuffle in the SW. The chief constable is taking a very hard line on people driving to exercise and seems very much out of kilter with the rest of the country. Anne Marie Morris, the Newton Abbot MP seems very much opposed to his views. She reported a case of someone out walking a dog who was stopped by a police person who asked if they had a garden. The reply was yes,so the police person told the walker to go home, they had no reason to be out walking! And the chief constable said he supported and backed every ticket issued by his officers. He also talked about tens of thousands encounters between police and the public since lockdown. I’ve been out walking or cycling most days since lockdown, I’ve yet to see a policeman in uniform. Although I did encounter one today on my walk, but that doesn’t really count as he’s a neighbour who was not on duty, also out walking with his family.

The Devon and Cornwall chief constable has done neither himself or his force any favours with his tough talking. Seems he’s become a bit of a laughing stock.
 
I’m in no position to speculate.

Shaun Sawyer talks tough, but whether that translates into actions, I really can’t say, as Ive not come across any police on my (limited) travels. I’ve only used my car twice in the past 5 weeks. And I live in a rural area.
 
penberth3 said:
What do you think would have happened in the SW without a "hard line" approach?
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The inference there is slightly different to the theme of this topic. It is absolutely not reasonable to be putting the family in the car and driving down to the SW for the weekend, with or without your caravan, and the local police there have quite rightly issued some very strong guidance on what the likely reception will be if you do.

This is about is it reasonable to go surfing during Lockdown, and if it is a case of only making a short journey for a significant amount of exercise then surfing would appear to fit the current criteria as to what is reasonable.
 
Except the Devon and Cornwall police say you should not do it.

In black and white.
(For fellow pedants here I've just double checked it wasn't blue on white... )

The question was is it OK. Their answer remains clear.
 
James_Calvert said:
Except the Devon and Cornwall police say you should not do it.

In black and white.
(For fellow pedants here I've just double checked it wasn't blue on white... )

The question was is it OK. Their answer remains clear.
Click to expand...

Actually only one man says that. The chief constable. That doesn’t necessarily make it right.
 
It seems to me that, as long as they're keeping their distance and most in the water seem to be, it's reasonable exercise. I'd be interested to hear the Devon Chief Constable's justification for saying it's unacceptable.
 
James_Calvert said:
Except the Devon and Cornwall police say you should not do it.
Click to expand...

Actually, what they say is this

Dogg8v1.png
 
Slight thread drift..........my wife and I were cycling along the canal towpath yesterday and we came across a lady, probably aged mid 60s to 70s, paddling a canoe at a leisurely pace. We struck-up a conversation and she claimed that it's good exercise and is an ideal way to practice social distancing in an urban environment.
 
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