North Yorkshire Police seek to clarify lockdown exercise rules
A senior officer has said "it is not reasonable or essential to travel lengthy distances to take daily exercise, when it can be taken from the doorstep"
Police in North Yorkshire have sought to clarify the rules around daily exercise during the current national lockdown restrictions.
One of the few reasons people are legally allowed to leave their homes is to take exercise, but there's been some confusion about exactly what you can do and where you can go when you go out to exercise.
The debate about exercise rules has heated up since two women were each fined £200 in Derbyshire on Wednesday for walking at a reservoir five miles from home, their fines are now being reviewed by the Derbyshire force.
So what exactly are the rules and how are they being enforced in North Yorkshire?
The senior officer leading North Yorkshire Police's response to Covid-19 has attempted to answer these questions...
Superintendent Mike Walker said:
“In the first national lockdown, when we were told to stay at home, the issue of travel and exercise was much debated. Already within days of the new legislation being passed in parliament, the same questions are being raised again. What does ‘staying local’ mean and how are you enforcing this part of the legislation?
“I understand the public’s need for clarity around this issue. People want certainty about what they can and can’t do. Can I travel across the county to take exercise? Can I drive 20 miles to visit an open space? These are regular questions asked of our officers while on patrol and via our social media channels.
“So I want to be transparent with the public and share the approach our officers will take over this issue, so members of the public can make an informed decision before they make their journey.
“From day one of the pandemic, our officers have followed the 4 e’s approach of engage, explain, encourage, enforce and have applied the legislation fairly and with common sense.
“When engaging with a member of the public, officers will ask the questions we would expect them to ask – why are you traveling? Where are you going? Where have you come from? If the member of the public explains they are taking exercise and live in the local area, this is one of the reasonable excuses for being outside of home and no further action would be taken.
“However, if the officer finds that the individual has travelled multiple miles to exercise and it’s outside of their local area, where there is plenty of provision and open spaces to exercise close to home, the officer has the option to encourage adherence or enforce the regulations dependant on the circumstances”
“It is not reasonable or essential to travel lengthy distances to take daily exercise, when it can be taken from the doorstep. We do not expect people to be travelling multiple miles in a car to take their exercise in North Yorkshire.
“I think we can get sometimes get embroiled in the detail of what we can and can’t do and lose focus on the real reason we are being asked to limit our movement and why the police are enforcing this legislation – to save lives.
“The virus has spread again and our health services are reaching crisis point. If we don’t act now, the consequences are severe for all of us. We all need to stop and consider the implications of our actions and question ourselves before we take a step out of our front doors.
“So before you pick up your car keys, get on your bike, put your trainers or walking boots on, ask yourself – do I need to make that journey? Is there a real need? Is it necessary? Can I change my route or my form of exercise to stay closer to home? Are my actions within the law and also within the spirit of the ‘stay local’ advice? If you can answer those questions honestly and with a clear conscience, then you are acting responsibly.”