Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[davmaher]

I've just read reports of police complaining about "fighting a losing battle" with thousands of people congregating in public parks and on beaches, etc. But I don't get it... I thought the police have the power to issue fines?

Strange.

I think they're all too busy filming themselves doing dance routines or miming to crappy songs to try & get shown on the One Show to be able to do what might normally be considered police work. Those routines don't write themselves and they must put hours of practice into them. There will probably be a series made at the end of it - "Strictly Plod Dancing" or "The Met's Got Talent".

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Leccy scooter is an option. Will be ace in November that. Or next week if the weather forecast is a little bit right.

Or an electric bike. Think I'm right in saying that the majority of bikes sold in China these days are electric. They tend to weigh a bit, but for urban riding, they're pretty good. You can get electric Bromptons as well if you need to take them places (trains etc.)

 

[Bruce Wayne]

They have learnt their lesson. Hence the widening of pavements.

We have gone mad.

It's not really. It's a temporary measure because we are likely to enter a scenario whereby people will be going back to work, yet will be uncomfortable using public transport. So they're proposing a temporary extension of cycle lanes.

 

[PhilM]

How would it be enforced? On the spot fines are incredibly difficult to recover. People can't be forced to provide proof of address at that point.

Like I mentioned a few posts ago, enforcement by the way of the fine has been made as a semi-last resort and actually arresting people is even further away.

There is no real will from central government for any real level of enforcement, and therefore ACPO won't push it either. The CPS aren't supportive either.

"If we're nice and friendly people will follow and do the right thing" Unfortunately, the goodwill has started to fade away and people will start to take the Michael.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I must admit, that whenever I have discussed this mess with Mrs R or my parents, the issue of narrow pavements and a lack of cycle lanes has not been raised.

It seems a shark jumping moment.

Why would the transport secretary be worrying about PPE?

 

[tsubaki]

Why would the transport secretary be worrying about PPE?

in Grayling's time it would have been to work out what it stood for

 

[COYBL25]

I've just read reports of police complaining about "fighting a losing battle" with thousands of people congregating in public parks and on beaches, etc. But I don't get it... I thought the police have the power to issue fines?

Strange.

What can 3 or 4 Police Officers do against hundreds of people.

Imagine the headlines if they rolled up in riot vans and started battling with people and thereby putting themselves at risk of catching it too ??

It`s a no win situation.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

So the most diverse City in England is observing lockdown and the North has gone full tribal.

Interesting.

I wouldn't say that per se. I would say that the majority of Londoners only go into central London for work. Most of those you see there are tourists, of whom there aren't really any at the moment. If I went to my local park I dare say it would be very busy. We had a walk around Hyde Park, for instance, and it was busy, albeit with people generally running or cycling solo or in pairs. Also had a couple of police cars circling it at all times, which perhaps helped. My local park has none of that and you do sadly see football matches, sunbathing and all that.

 

[Neiler]

I see the type of discipline (and sense of community) in places like South Korea and then compare it with here, where the entitled attitude of the individaul is paramount and encouraged, and I must say our societies are found wanting.

The real fault lies with HM Government for us, but there is also, looking around, a lot of evidence that in the UK especially we are lax as a people. Forty years of neo-liberalism has hollowed out society. If Thatcher had made her famous 'there is no such thing as society' comment today, it'd have been a lot closer to the mark than when it was uttered in 1987.

I think this pandemic happened at a poor time for the UK in terms of split national identity and polarised political identification mate.

Brexit split the nation, many feel that this government and nation dont represent them and they dont want to identify with them and thus dienfranchises the collective community and leads to the cult of the individual

Then there are those who may have favored a Brexit approach and who will back the nation/government against all cost and logic of the back of it - all to back the British dream - "The Make America Great Again" psychology.

Its all been divisive and as a society the UK has probably never had so little unity, social cohesion and been so polarised.

Not a great starting point for surpassing a pandemic when national spirit, social cohesion and unity and the currency needed.

 

[tsubaki]

I wouldn't say that per se. I would say that the majority of Londoners only go into central London for work. Most of those you see there are tourists, of whom there aren't really any at the moment. If I went to my local park I dare say it would be very busy. We had a walk around Hyde Park, for instance, and it was busy, albeit with people generally running or cycling solo or in pairs. Also had a couple of police cars circling it at all times, which perhaps helped. My local park has none of that and you do sadly see football matches, sunbathing and all that.

the most disappointing thing about Hyde Park at present is that 90% of cyclists appear to be unable to recognize which lane on the paths are for bikes

 

[scratchnsurf]

A few weeks ago, I’d see people getting pulled up and I’m just not seeing that any more.

Speke seems to be full of people having BBQ’s and on the ale. Woolton is full of teenagers, as are the surrounding parks.
There’s been mention of Sefton Park being the same.

How can you realistically police this !

 

[RAFUH]

Have to say was feeling pretty confident of taking home the cup with the “inject bleach” message but the “bigger pavements/cycle lanes”, whilst understated, might just be the winner as it appears they are going to try to implement it?!

You’ve forgotten the White House Spiritual Advisor that declared divine intervention and a supernatural turnaround.

A good rebuking in the name Jesus fixes everything.

 

[COYBL25]

Where the hell did you get that from, I remember those ads from when I was a kid lol

 

[scratchnsurf]

Where the hell did you get that from, I remember those ads from when I was a kid lol

Just searched action man gif.

 

[ToffeeTim]

I am no supporter of the coppers at the best of times, but if they mounted a Peterloo-type charge at couple hundred 'partying' they'd have my blessing.

That said, it's the Government Ministers who briefed all the press last week to get the 'business as usual soon' headlines out there who I'd like to see on the end of a 'kin sabre.

Not having that. People have personal responsibility and this country has forgotten that.

Why would people believe what's written in the tabloids for a start. And even if they are daft enough to believe everything they read, the stories all talked about changes on monday. And Saturday is before Monday as far as I'm aware.

People will use any excuse under the sun to justify their own care free behaviour. It's the way of the modern world and the media are making it far worse.