The pair were heading towards the Peak District from Staffordshire Moorlands. Photo: Peter Turner CC-BY-SA-2.0
Police have fined a couple they found camping while on their way to the Peak District.
Staffordshire Police warned it will issue fines to any other members of the public making unnecessary journeys during the coronavirus lockdown.
The force said officers patrolling Leek on Wednesday came across the pair who were heading to the Peak District – claiming they were only doing so as a friend they’d be hoping to stay with in Harrogate had come down with symptoms of Covid-19.
A spokesperson said: “It transpired that the man had recently flown into the country from Berlin following which he and his partner made the journey to the Moorlands via Harrogate and Wigan before their intended destination of the Peak District.
“The incident is not the first of its kind in our rural beauty spots, with Moorlands officers coming across visitors from London and Nottinghamshire in the course of the last week.”
The area’s Chief Inspector Mark Thorley said: “Our message and guidance has been clear throughout this lockdown. We are urging people to stay at home and save lives and when taking part in their daily exercise to do so close to home.
“When we do have to leave the home we need to continue to ensure that what we are doing is necessary and reasonable. Now is not the time for people to be travelling unnecessarily into our rural communities and to our beauty spots for dog walking, exercise, camping or picnics.
“I am pleased that the majority of people understand this but, for those making journeys from far and wide to places like the Moorlands, we will continue to use the discretion and good judgement of our officers in deciding whether or not your journey is considered ‘reasonable’ or not.
“Our advice has been there for all to see throughout this lockdown and we will carry out enforcement action and issue fines if deemed necessary.
“Our beauty spots and rural areas will be here when this is over – let’s make sure we stick together and do what is necessary so we can get back to normal as soon as possible.”
Team Member
26 April 2020"we will continue to use the discretion and good judgement of our officers in deciding whether or not your journey is considered ‘reasonable’ or not."
Sadly I'd not trust the Police to make this call. Many of us have witnessed another side to them as a result of the lockdown; acting in ways well beyond what the government intended. From chief officers threatening to search people's shopping, to officers on camera stating that they'll invent evidence. I've never personally had any criminal justice interaction with the Police, being a law abiding citizen, but as a MR volunteer I've worked with the them for over twenty years: my faith in them has been destroyed in twenty days.
I think they're going to have to work hard to regain some measure of public trust once this is over.